Giles Quay Lifeboat Station | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() Gyles Quay | |
Alternative names | Dundalk (Giles Quay) |
General information | |
Status | Closed |
Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
Town or city | Gyles' Quay, County Louth, A91 X382 |
Country | Ireland |
Coordinates | 53°59′07.2″N6°14′17.9″W / 53.985333°N 6.238306°W |
Opened | 1879 |
Closed | 1912 |
Giles Quay Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, located in the village of Gyles' Quay, on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, Ireland.
It is one of two stations, the other being at Blackrock, that have been home to the Dundalk lifeboat, which was first stationed here by the RNLI in 1879. [1]
The Giles Quay Lifeboat Station was closed in 1912. [1]
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. An 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]
The following are awards made at Giles Quay [2]
ON [lower-alpha 1] | Name | In service [1] | Class | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-499 | Stockport Sunday Schools | 1879−1880 | 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 1] |
Pre-649 | James Thomas | 1880−1891 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 2] |
310 | Providence | 1891−1912 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 3] |
Tenby Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales that has been situated to the east of the town since 1852, three generations having been built; the original and updates in 1905 and 2005. The station currently houses two lifeboats.
Walmer Lifeboat Station is located on The Strand on Walmer promenade, in the county of Kent.
Blyth Lifeboat Station is located at the Port and seaside town of Blyth, in the south east corner of the county of Northumberland, approx. 13 miles (21 km) north of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Falmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Falmouth, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1867 and the present station was opened in 1993. It operates a Severn Class all-weather Lifeboat (ALB) and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Cardigan Lifeboat Station, at Poppit Sands, North Pembrokeshire, near Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales, is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station opened in 1849. The station closed in 1932 but reopened in 1971 as an inshore lifeboat station.
Aberdeen Lifeboat Station is located at the entrance to Victoria Dock, in the harbour city of Aberdeen, in the historic county of Aberdeenshire.
Brighton Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Brighton in the English county of East Sussex in the United Kingdom. It was originally established in 1825 as an all-weather lifeboat station. This lifeboat was withdrawn in 1931, and the station now operates as an inshore lifeboat station. As of 2012, the current lifeboat is the B-class Random Harvest (B-852).
Anstruther Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in the town of Anstruther, Fife. The station has been in operation since 1865, although RNLI activity in the area dates back to 1832. The station houses the all-weather Mersey-class lifeboat 12-17 Kingdom of Fife and inshore D-class lifeboat Akira (D-802)
Arklow Lifeboat Station is located at South Quay in Arklow, County Wicklow, a harbour town at the mouth of the River Avoca, on the east coast of Ireland.
Douglas Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Douglas, capital of the Isle of Man.
Hoylake Lifeboat Station is located on the North Parade promenade in the town of Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside. A lifeboat was first stationed at Hoylake by the Liverpool Dock Trustees in 1803. The station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1894.
Fleetwood Lifeboat Station is located on The Esplanade at the port of Fleetwood, a Lancashire town at the north end of The Fylde, situated at the mouth of the River Wyre.
Winterton Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located in the town of Winterton-on-Sea in the county of Norfolk.
Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Fraserburgh, in the NE corner of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Tynemouth Lifeboat Station is located on the River Tyne, at Fish Quay, North Shields, in the county of Tyne and Wear.
Seahouses Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Seahouses, in the county of Northumberland.
Rhosneigr Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located in the village of Rhosneigr on the west coast of the Isle of Anglesey, Wales.
Dunmore East Lifeboat Station is located on West Wharf, at the harbour of Dunmore East, County Waterford, on the south coast of Ireland.
Baltray Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, located at The Haven, in the village of Baltray, on the north side of the River Boyne, near Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland.
Blackrock Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, located in the village of Blackrock, on the south side of Dundalk Bay, in County Louth, Ireland.