From Remembrance to Lifesaving: Buncrana Campaign Raises €45,000 for RNLI
- Mary Kate Byrne
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Tuesday 9 June 2026
Lough Swilly RNLI has received a €45,000 donation from the Remember Me Campaign, established to honour the memory of five family members who lost their lives in the Buncrana pier tragedy 10 years ago.
The donation was formally presented during a visit to Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station on Monday evening, 8 June, when Louise James, her daughter Rioghnach, and organisers of the campaign's anniversary events met with RNLI volunteers and representatives from local emergency services.
In total, €49,000 was distributed among organisations involved in the response to the tragedy that occurred on 20 March 2016. Representatives from Greencastle Coast Guard, Marine Rescue Sub-Centre Malin Head, An Garda Síochána and Buncrana Fire Service joined RNLI volunteers at the station for the presentation.
The fundraising campaign was organised as a gesture of gratitude to the emergency services that responded to the incident a decade ago. Commemorative events included a 5km Remembrance Walk held in March, which saw hundreds of participants dressed in red and white walk from the play park in Buncrana to Stragill Beach via the RNLI lifeboat station at Ned's Point.
The anniversary programme concluded with a Gala Ball at The Ebrington Hotel in Derry in May. Both events received extensive support from volunteers, community groups and businesses across the region.
Speaking at the presentation, Lough Swilly RNLI Chairman John McCarter expressed his appreciation for the donation and the community effort behind the campaign.
"It is overwhelming for Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station to be the recipient of the substantial €45,000 donation from the Remember Me Campaign, which celebrates and honours the lives of Sean, Mark, Evan, Ruth and Jodie-Lee," he said.
"As a charity, the RNLI relies on the generosity of public donations to power its lifesaving work at sea, and the communities we serve truly supported this wonderful campaign in a most generous manner."
In addition to the RNLI donation, €1,000 contributions were presented to several emergency service representatives, including Garda Charlene Callaghan for the Little Blue Heroes Foundation, Charlie Cavanagh of Greencastle Coast Guard, Paul Gill of Marine Rescue Sub-Centre Malin Head and Don Magee of Buncrana Fire Service.
In a further gesture of solidarity, Buncrana Fire Service re-donated its €1,000 contribution to Lough Swilly RNLI, recognising the close cooperation and joint emergency response work carried out by both Buncrana-based services.
The Remember Me Campaign was established to commemorate the lives lost in the Buncrana pier tragedy while acknowledging the dedication of the emergency responders who attended the scene. The substantial fundraising total reflects continued community support and appreciation for the lifesaving organisations serving the north-west coast.
