President Catherine Connolly Marks Achill Island RNLI's 30 Years of Lifesaving Service
- Pat Nolan
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Sunday 7 June 2026
Achill Island, Co Mayo - President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, visited Achill Island RNLI on Saturday (6 June) to commemorate the lifeboat station's 30th anniversary and unveil a specially commissioned plaque recognising three decades of lifesaving service at sea.
The President was welcomed to the station by Lifeboat Operations Manager Ciaran Needham, Coxswain Dave Curtis, Senior Station Technician Michael Cattigan and Achill Island RNLI Fundraising Branch Chairman Anthony McNamara. Also attending on behalf of the RNLI were Chief Executive Peter Sparkes and Trustee Dr John Killeen.
Arriving to the sound of the Achill Island Pipe Band, President Connolly met current and former lifeboat volunteers, representatives from local emergency services, community organisations and supporters who gathered to celebrate the station's significant milestone.
A ceremony marking the station's 30th anniversary was held in bright sunshine at the lifeboat station. Proceedings were opened by Fundraising Branch Chairman Anthony McNamara, who delivered a brief history of Achill Island RNLI. A service of dedication followed, led jointly by Reverend Susan Cousins and Father Ignatius Chalissery.
RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes then addressed those assembled before inviting President Connolly to unveil a marble commemorative plaque, which will be permanently displayed on the wall of the lifeboat station.
Following the unveiling, the President was presented with flowers and a piece of Achill Island pottery by Finn McGreal, Diarmuid Cattigan and Chloe Cattigan, all children of lifeboat crew members.
The visit concluded with a tour of the station's Trent-class all-weather lifeboat at Cé Bheag, led by Coxswain Dave Curtis and Senior Station Technician Michael Cattigan.
Speaking during the visit, President Connolly praised the dedication and commitment of the station's volunteers.
"As President of Ireland, I am delighted to mark the 30th anniversary of the Achill Island RNLI lifeboat station," she said.
"As a volunteer-led station, the community of Achill Island and surrounding areas are owed a debt of gratitude by all of us for their work in protecting the lives of all those who work on or enjoy our seas.
"The bravery and commitment shown by them is an example of community spirit at its strongest.
"May I thank each and every person who has crewed or supported the station over the last three decades for all that you have done and wish everyone involved with Achill Island RNLI lifeboat station every best wishes for the decades to come."
RNLI Trustee and Council Member John Killeen thanked the President for attending the celebration.
"We wish to extend our thanks to the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, who hails from the west coast of Ireland," he said.
"We thank the President most sincerely for visiting the station on such an important occasion. I would like to thank all involved with Achill Island lifeboat station, those both on and off the water, for their tremendous work. Here's to many more years of lifesaving to come."
Achill Island RNLI Fundraising Branch Chairman Anthony McNamara described the visit as a tremendous honour.
"It has been a huge honour to welcome President Connolly to Achill Island Lifeboat Station," he said.
"We are very proud of our lifeboat community and the support we receive to save lives at sea. Behind our lifeboat are the people who power it, through their time, commitment and dedication. It is important that we mark this major milestone and acknowledge how far we have come and what we have achieved."
Since opening in 1996, Achill Island RNLI has launched 336 times, aided 234 people and spent 728 hours at sea responding to emergency callouts. The station is one of 46 RNLI lifeboat stations across the island of Ireland.
The RNLI provides a 24-hour, on-call search and rescue service around the coasts of Ireland and the United Kingdom, with lifeboat crews capable of operating up to 100 nautical miles offshore.
