Keeping it all afloat after 16 years saving lives at sea
WHILE IRISH waters can be unpredictable and dangerous, there are many success stories which arise out of the deep seas.
One is that of Dermot Gillen - a 16 year veteran of the RNLI based at Rosses Point.
But while Dermot has spent the better part of two decades making sure people are safe in our North- West waters, he admits keeping a free service running takes a great amount of work and a lot of dependence on both volunteers and fundraising.
When Dermot joined the crew in 1998, he was happy to give his time to the service and continues to do so to this day.
He said: “I remember there was an appeal in 1997 to put a station at Rosses Point before investing in a lifeboat. Many volunteers applied to be part of it and I was one of the lucky ones who got taken on.
“It was then through fundraising that we got the Atlantic 75, the boat we have today.”
Dermot admits that days on a lifeboat can be incredibly unpredictable.
While the RNLI crew could go unused one day, the next could be entirely different.
But this all adds to the excitement of the role, admits the father of two.
“We are all on pagers for the operational end of things, whether that is being called out to an engine failure or someone being cut off by the tide.
“You could be called in for one hour and end up staying for six - that's just something we call a lifeboat hour!”
One incident in particular stands out for Dermot.
It was evening time and the RNLI were asked to tend to a boat with six passengers on board.
The boat's anchor was not holding and so t he boat was swaying dangerously close to the rocks.
Dermot admits that if the RNLI had not got there, a scary situation would have unfolded and the six on board could have been harmed.
But being able to lead the group to safety is something Dermot describes as a “great feeling” and a “happy ending” for all.
Being able to react to these kind of situations takes a lot of practice for all RNLI members.
Dermot said: “A lot of training goes into doing what we do.
“We do a lot of drills and practice different scenarios that might unfold throughout the day.
“Navigation, radio and even driving get a lot of attention.”
But this comes at a price - € 1500 a year for training alone to be exact - and that's why fundraising is such a massive part of the service.
And if one person knows about this it's Dermot who recently received an award, along with his wife Lisa, for their tireless voluntary work.
“There has always been fundraising in Rosses Point.
“We hold a lot of events which go towards local lifeboats and such things.
“We had a very successful family fun day with rowing races, we had May Day in Sligo town and at the end of this summer we will have a big sea food event in Strandhill.”
“Fundraising is essential because we have no funds for this great service - we really depend on people's donations”
It may be tiring work, but Dermot admits it is all worth it in the end and while the cost of maintaining the service is expensive, he says you “can’t put a price on a life”.
“We've had good times and bad times, but when you pull someone out of the water and know they are safe, it's a great feeling.”
Now part of the RNLI’s on shore crew, Dermot will continue working the lifeboat station and assisting in fundraising ventures.