Clogherhead says goodbye to Doris 

 

It was an emotional morning at Clogherhead RNLI as members of the public along with the crew watched veteran lifeboat 'Doris Bleasdale' make her final voyage. Over the 26 years that Doris has served in Clogherhead, she has been involved in many rescues and saved lives up and down the coast.

Taking to Facebook the Clogherhead RNLI said:

"As Doris is about to leave Clogherhead for the last time, we are conscious of the anniversary of the tragic death of Craig Byrne three years ago today and remember his family and friends. The 20th anniversary of the Dunany tragedy also falls today, in which four people lost their lives: we think of their families and friends too.

"We thank the Coxswains and crews who served on Doris, the shore-crews, the volunteers who fundraise for the RNLI, and the ever-generous public who make it all possible. Noel Sharkey was Coxswain of Doris for almost 20 years, under whose command many lives were saved. It is fitting that Noel takes her on her farewell voyage out of Clogherhead."

Full-time mechanic with the service Padraig Rath has been a member of the Clogherhead RNLI, that serves the east coast for the past 37 years, he became emotional as he described what Doris means to the team, 

Clogherhead RNLI crew member

"Doris came here on the 12th February 1993 and she was the station lifeboat here up until the 8th of July when the new lifeboat Michael O'Brien came in service. She was passaged away today from the station for the last time. She has been with us every step of the way and has seen good and bad days, good and bad services. 

"Saying goodbye to her was like somebody putting their hand in and pulling your heart out. The decision was only made yesterday and word got out late last night but the beach was half full here this morning with people wanted to see her for the last time. A local primary school brought sixth class down and everyone was singing the song 'Clogherhead like it used to be.'

Crew members, shore crew members, tractor drivers who had been working with her over the last 26 and a half years came out. Ironically tomorrow 26 years ago is the anniversary of her naming ceremony. We will miss her. 

Padraig explains why being a part of the RNLI is a vocation, 

Crowds gathered to say farewell to Doris

"The Clogherhead Lifeboat is a community lifeboat, the station here is everyone's station. Anyone involved in the RNLI  take pride in what they do. There are 70 volunteers here in different areas like fundraising, operations team, shore crew and crew. The pager goes off any time of the day or night, anyone that has a pager is hopping out of bed in all weather, they just drop everything and go down to the station, the boat goes to sea and the boat comes back.

"As far as the crew are concerned that's what they are there to do. Sometimes you don't bat an eyelid, you got out and rescue people and bring them in, you hand them back to their families. Some times you are bringing back their loved ones under bad circumstances but you are still handing them back and giving them closure. 

"The message that we want to get out is that if a member of the public think they see somebody in danger, don't be afraid to lift the phone and dial 999, don't always assume that someone else will do it." 

Clogherhead RNLI  (041) 982 2600