New lifeboat campaign is successful
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| Fundraising at Naas Racecourse. |
A campaign to raise funds for a new lifeboat, led by volunteers from North Kildare, has successfully reached its €117,000 target, thanks to the generosity of people across the entire county, writes Brian Byrne. The D-class inshore lifeboat will be named Cill Dara and stationed at the RNLI station in Wexford.
The North Kildare RNLI committee started the project to mark the bicentenary of the sea rescue organisation. Fundraising events included street collections, notably at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford last summer, a cooking demonstration, an abseil challenge, and a concert by the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir.
Fundraising efforts also took place in Newbridge, Athy, and Monasterevin, with local businesses in Kilcullen also making donations. Kilcullen's Pat Stafford is a member of the fundraising group.
The branch was established over 50 years ago in Celbridge by Lady King-Harman, and it has a special connection with Wexford Lifeboat Station: a D-class lifeboat was donated in 2005 by the family of one of the branch’s fundraisers, who passed away suddenly.
The D-class is highly manoeuvrable and ideal for searches and rescues in surf, shallow waters, and confined areas, often around cliffs, rocks, and caves.
Brian Bradshaw, President of North Kildare RNLI, expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the events and collections over the past year.
David Sherwood, Wexford RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, thanked all contributors for providing vital funds that will support the next chapter in lifesaving at Wexford RNLI.
The Wexford station was established in 2002. Its current lifeboat, Alfred William Newman, has been in service since 2015 and has been launched 142 times over the past decade, assisting 121 people and credited with saving four lives.
