Wicklow Lifeboat Station to play its part in RNLI 200 celebrations

WICKLOW RNLI have all sorts of events lined-up to mark the 200th anniversary of the charity responsible for saving lives at sea across the UK and Ireland.

On March 4, 1824, over 30 gentlemen put their names to the fledgling RNLI at the inaugural public meeting held at the City of London Tavern at Bishopgate, with Sir William Hillary having organised the meeting.

On March 4, the actual RNLI birthday, events are taking place at lifeboat stations across the length and breadth of Ireland and the UK, with Wicklow RNLI set to mark the occasion, while also putting in place arrangements for other activities to mark this milestone year.

Wicklow RNLI PRO Tommy

Dover said: “We will be launching both lifeboats at 11am on March 4 and we have sent out invites to former members asking them if they could attend on the day.

“We are hosting our open day in the summer, probably around August, when both our lifeboats will be on display for the public to explore.

“We will be inviting other emergency services providers down to attend and hold demonstrations, including Gardaí, the Garda Sub Aqua Unit, Civil Defence and the Coast Guard.

“The lifeboat station will be open to the public and it’s a great opportunity to take a tour of this historic building, which dates back to 1887.

“We also have a huge photo archive which people should find interesting. Our Mascot Stormy Stan will also be on hand.

“One of our crew will be representing Wicklow RNLI at the parade in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day and we are working away on something colourful for the parade in Wicklow town, which our crew and their kids will be taking part in.”

As part of the 200th celebrations, a commemorative scroll is travelling around different RNLI stations where it is signed on behalf of the crew by one volunteer.

“The scroll will be coming to Wicklow, probably later in the summer or into Autumn,” confirmed Tommy. “It will be put into the archives so in 20 years from now people will be able to look at the scroll and see all the names.”