Representatives from all 43 lifeboat stations in Ireland, along with supporters and friends, gathered for the official opening by the President, Mary McAleese of the new Ireland headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Swords, Co Dublin, last Thursday.
The state-of-the-art premises at Airside Park will accommodate the divisional base, fundraising and communications offices to create a central location for workshops, stores and conference facilities.
With the ever-increasing complexity of lifeboats and advancement of equipment, the level of training for volunteers has become more demanding. The new technical support base at Swords will answer this call admirably.
In her address, the President said the new base is a landmark building that will harness all the strands of one institution and radiate a very strong statement about the strength of the organisation.
"The RNLI is a classic example of the voluntary endeavour that goes on year in and year out without thought of recognition. Here you will find spontaneous goodness and, in particular, volunteers prepared to risk their lives for people who may be complete strangers and occasionally complete fools.
"If there is fear you don't look for an easy out, if there is discomfort you do not complain, if there is danger you face it. And by some miracle you get a deep personal fulfilment from all this giving which keeps you involved, often over a lifetime, Mrs McAleese said.
"We also take pride in the fact that RNLI-Ireland operates on an all-island basis, transcending vanities of jurisdictional issues to ensure that the sea, which is no respecter of man-made boundaries, is tackled with the best possible will.
"Also forthcoming is the co-operation between RNLI and other rescue services and this is symbolised by the Commissioners of Irish Lights donation of the green and red navigation buoys at the entrance to the building."
Concluding, the President borrowed a few lines from Seamus Heaney's translation of the epic poem Beowulf, which she said summarises where the RNLI resides in the heart of the Irish people.
You have won renown: you are known to all men/ far and near, now and forever./ Your sway is wide as the wind's home,/ as the sea around cliffs.
Sir Jock Slater, chairman of the RNLI said: "Last year in Ireland crews rescued 1,161 people and launched a total of 916 times. We depend on our 1,500 crew-members, shore helpers, station management and 2,000 fund-raisers. This substantial investment demonstrates our commitment to saving lives around the coast of Ireland and on two inland waterways at Lough Derg and Enniskillen."
Meanwhile, last Tuesday the Baltimore Lifeboat was sent by Valentia Coastguard to the assistance of a 24ft traditional sailing boat. In overcast conditions, the Hilda Jarrett proceeded to Roaring Water Bay to a point east of the Calf Island where she found the wooden sailing boat aground with two crew members on board. The lifeboat pulled the stricken vessel clear and escorted her back to Heir Island. There were no casualties.
• The Minister of State at the Department of Marine, John Browne, launched a new book by Dr Martin O'Grady of the Central Fisheries Board (CFB) at the National Gallery of Ireland last Tuesday week. Entitled, Channels & Challenges: the Enhancement of Salmonid Rivers, the book is an examination of work completed on improvement and management of inland fisheries over the past years.
While the publication is mainly geared towards those engaged in river restoration and enhancement, it is also of interest to all those concerned in the future of our salmon resource.
"Over the course of the National Development Plan, my Department and the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards played pivotal roles in many fishery enhancement programmes and I am pleased to see how successful these individual projects turned out, the Minister said.
"The CFB deserves great credit for enabling Dr O'Grady and his team to record their work and reproduce this manual. I know this book reflects the 'good health' of the State's fisheries and hope the publication will be the first of many," he concluded.
• The Irish Ladies Fly-fishing Team, led by captain Ruth Mettler, go to Holyhead this morning to compete in the Home International at Lyn Brenig Waters on Thursday.
Expectations for a win are high as a number of team members are familiar with the venue having competed at Lyn Brenig in the 1998 international.
The team: M Kelly, M Cosgrove, M Scorer, A Kerrin, R Mettler, J Gerry, M Rooney, S Weld, M Gunning, R Watson, S McGriskin, S Brown, S Moffitt and E Decies.
• A fishing tackle auction will take place in Howth Angling Centre, West Pier, Howth, Co Dublin this coming Friday at 9pm. Rods, reels and general fishing items, along with not-so-new tackle will come under the hammer. Admission is free.