Lough Derg Lifeboat Station

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Lough Derg Lifeboat Station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
Dromineer Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 1543524.jpg
Lough Derg Harbour, County Tipperary
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Dromineer, County Tipperary
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationLough Derg Yacht Club
Town or city Dromineer, County Tipperary
Country Ireland
Coordinates 52°55′36.1″N8°16′30.9″W / 52.926694°N 8.275250°W / 52.926694; -8.275250
Opened25 May 2004
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Station

Lough Derg Lifeboat Station is located at Lough Derg Yacht Club, in Dromineer, a small village on the eastern shore of Lough Derg, the largest lake on the River Shannon, in County Tipperary, Ireland.

Contents

A lifeboat station was established on Lough Derg in 2004 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). [1]

The station currently operates the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Jean Spier (B-911), on station since 2019. [2]

History

In 2003, the Irish Coast Guard took over responsibility for Inland Search and Rescue. A request was made of the RNLI to place a lifeboat on Lough Derg, the largest lake on the River Shannon. At approximately 39 kilometres (24 mi) long and up to 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) wide, it is effectively a small sea, and attracts thousands of leisure craft each year onto its waters. [3]

A site at the Lough Derg Yacht Club at Dromineer was deemed strategically suitable, both physically, and with sufficient local population to provide crew. A group of volunteers were selected, and training was undertaken at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The relief B-class (Atlantic 21) Inshore lifeboat Clothworker (B-586) was initially sent to the station, and the station was declared operational at 8.45pm on Tuesday 25 May 2004. [1] [3]

On the 18 July 2007, another lifeboat from the relief fleet, the larger B-class (Atlantic 75) Vera Skilton (B-705), was placed at the station. Over the next twelve years, a succession of Atlantic 75-class lifeboats from the relief fleet were placed on station, the last being Elsinore (B-781), previously on service at Sligo Bay. [1] [4]

After 15 years on service, Lough Derg would finally get a 'new' lifeboat assigned to the station. The B-class (Atlantic 85) Jean Spier (B-911) arrived on station on 5 March 2019. The boat was funded by Mr Robert Spier, and named after his late wife. At a naming ceremony on Saturday 11 May, the lifeboat was formally accepted by Paddy McLaughlin, RNLI Irish Council Member, and then handed to the care of Lough Derg RNLI. [5]

The Lough Derg crew would feature in Series 5, Episode 4, of the BBC Television series 'Saving Lives at Sea' in 2020, to rescue a man who had fallen overboard in rough weather, and a night time launch into the fog responding to voices heard. [6]

Lough Derg lifeboats

Op. No. [a] NameOn Station [7] ClassComments
B-586Clothworker2004–2007 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-705Vera Skilton2007–2010 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-736Toshiba Wave Warrior2010–2012 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-755London's Anniversary 1752012–2013 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-747Rockabill2013–2015 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-781Elsinore2015–2019 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-911Jean Spier2019– B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No. [a] Reg. No.TypeOn Station [8] Comments
TA5202-D-86634New Holland TN55D2022–
  1. 1 2 Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lough Derg's station history". Lough Derg Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  2. ↑ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 85.
  3. 1 2 "The Lough of the Irish". The Lifeboat. 60 (577). Autumn 2006. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  4. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 83.
  5. ↑ Cavanagh, Lizzie (14 May 2019). "Lough Derg RNLI holds naming ceremony for new Atlantic 85 B-911 Jean Spier". RNLI. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  6. ↑ "Series 5 Episode 4". Saving Lives at Sea. BBC. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 81–85.
  8. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 110.
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