Farewell to Brian after 50 years’ service with Kilmore Quay RNLI
‘IT’S something that’s just in the blood really.’ That’s how Brian Kehoe describes how he first came to be involved with the RNLI.
Remarkably, Brian put in 50 years of service with Kilmore Quay RNLI before finally deciding to retire at the beginning of the year.
It’s hard to overestimate just how highly he is thought of within the organisation.
Perhaps some measure is provided by the fact that RNLI colleagues made the journey from all over the country, from Northern Ireland to West Cork, and even as far as Padstow in the UK, to be with him at his retirement party in Coast Kilmore Quay.
‘My father and my grandfather both would have been involved, and my own young fella is keeping the tradition going now after me,’ Brian said proudly. ‘I started out as a chap on shore and then you get onto the crew. After that, I was promoted to second coxswain and then mechanic and then mechanic and coxswain.’
While rewarding, the difficult work that the RNLI does can often leave scars on those involved. Over the years, Brian would have taken part in countless rescues, some that had happy endings and others that didn’t.
‘I wouldn’t like to mention any in particular, or names or anything like that, but there were a few bad ones in my time alright,’ he said.
‘It can be tough going, but you can have good calls as well where you get a good result and bring someone home to their family. Unfortunately, there are sad calls too and there’s often calls where you’re trying to find someone who has given up on themselves. They can be really tough.’
A long number of years spent on call, Brian won’t know himself as he gets set to embrace an altogether quieter life now, and he was joined at the party by his loving family who are extremely proud of all his hard work. His colleagues at Kilmore Quay RNLI are determined, however, that this is not the end of the road for him and will be keen to rope him into doing a bit of volunteer work at the station every now and again.
‘I will miss it, but I’ve no doubt I’ll end up helping out a little bit down at the station, and I won’t be a stranger anyway,’ Brian said.