History
Even before there was a lifeboat at Giles Quay, medals were awarded by the RNLI for gallantry. On 6 April 1858, the barque Mary Stoddart was seen in distress in Dundalk Bay. Numerous attempts were made over 5 days to rescue the crew. Finally, H.M. Coastguard Chief Boatman Robert Shankey and his boat crew set out from Giles Quay and rescued seven men on the 9 April. On the 10 April, they rescued the remaining survivors, although a further seven crew of the Mary Stoddart had been lost. No fewer than 10 RNLI Silver Medals were awarded for the numerous attempts made to save the crew. Shankey was awarded not one, but two silver medals (silver medal plus second service clasp) for his efforts on two days. [2]
In 1877, it was thought that the Dundalk lifeboat would be better sited at Giles Quay (now Gyles Quay), on the north side of Dundalk Bay, rather than at the existing lifeboat station at Blackrock, on the south side. A quote of £205 for the construction of a new boathouse from a Mr. Matthews was accepted by the RNLI, and the 32-foot self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, Stockport Sunday Schools, was transferred over to the new station at Giles Quay in 1879. Blackrock lifeboat station was closed. [3]
The first rescue was on 9 February 1880. The Giles Quay lifeboat launched to the brigantine Andover of Dublin, on voyage from Limerick to Liverpool, and stranded 1 mile (1.6 km) from Dundalk Lighthouse. After taking off six people, the lifeboat went out again the following day, assisting with the refloat. Coxswain (and Pilot) Thomas Gallagher then took charge of the vessel, and arranged a tug to get the vessel to harbour. [4]
The decision of relocating the lifeboat was already under review, and even as soon as 1880, it was decided to reopen the Blackrock station, but also to retain the Giles Quay station. [1]
A new boat, the 34-foot James Thomas, was delivered to Greenore on 25 August 1880, and then onwards to Giles Quay. The Stockport Sunday Schools lifeboat was returned to Blackrock, but not before a lifeboat race was held between the two crews, the Blackrock crew emerging victors after a restarted race. [3]
James Thomas was launched to the brigantine Jean Anderson of Dundalk on 18 November 1882, bound from Ardrossan, and driven ashore on the east side of Dundalk Bar. The lifeboat stood by for four hours until the crew decided to abandon ship, and six men were rescued. [5]
A third boat would be provided to Giles Quay in 1891. This was the Providence (ON 310), a 34-foot 10-oared lifeboat, with sliding keel and water ballast tanks, provided from the legacy of the late Charles Pooley of Cheltenham.
The Providence was launched to the aid of the schooner Violet of Castletown, Isle of Man, aground on the North Bull. As the ship broke up, the crew of four managed to get to the North Bull beacon, and were rescued from there. It was said that All the ducks in Europe arrived to feed on the lost cargo of barley. [3] [6]
There were only two calls for the Giles Quay lifeboat after 1899, and in 1912, the Giles Quay Lifeboat Station was closed. The lifeboat had been called just 12 times in 33 years, but had rescued 19 people. The Providence would serve at Howth for a further year, before being sold from service. [1]
