Thirty years of lifesaving celebrated at Fethard RNLI
Friday 25 September 2026
Fethard RNLI volunteers past and present came together with members of the local community on Saturday 19 September to celebrate three decades of lifesaving service at the station.
There was a real sense of pride at Fethard RNLI on Saturday as the local community gathered to mark 30 years since the reopening of the lifeboat station.
For three decades, volunteers have answered the call whenever their pagers have sounded, heading out onto the water to help those in difficulty and providing a vital lifeline to people along the coast.
The anniversary open day offered an opportunity to celebrate that service, while also recognising the many people who have supported Fethard RNLI since the station reopened in 1996.
Visitors were welcomed into the station for tours, with the lifeboat itself proving a particular attraction. Members of the volunteer crew were on hand to meet with visitors, share their experiences and explain more about the work of the RNLI.
For those who have been part of Fethard RNLI over the years, it was also a chance to reflect on the station's history and the many volunteers who have given their time, energy and expertise to the lifesaving charity.
A special highlight of the day was the presentation of RNLI 30 Year Long Service Awards to five volunteers whose commitment has helped shape the station over the past three decades.
Walter Foley, Launch Authority and former Lifeboat Operations Manager; Peter Barry, Launch Authority and former crew member; Dr John Cox, Chairperson and former Lifeboat Medical Advisor; John Colfer, Helm; and Jamie Chapman, Helm, were all recognised for 30 years of service to Fethard RNLI.
Their combined years of service represent a remarkable contribution to the station and to the people who rely on the RNLI when they need help at sea.
Earlier this year, Walter Foley and Dr John Cox joined fellow RNLI volunteers from around Ireland at a special Volunteer Recognition Event at Clontarf Castle, where they were formally presented with their medals in recognition of three decades of dedication to the charity.
Saturday's celebrations at Fethard provided another special opportunity for fellow volunteers, family members and supporters to acknowledge their achievements alongside the other long-serving award recipients.
Speaking at the event, Fethard RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Domini Codd said:
“Today was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate 30 years of service and to thank the local community for the incredible support they have shown Fethard RNLI since the station reopened.
“The RNLI is a charity and everything we do is made possible through the generosity of the public. From those who volunteer their time to those who fundraise, donate or support us in any way, we are extremely grateful.
“I would also like to remind everyone that if they see someone in difficulty on the coast, or if they get into trouble themselves in, on or near the water, to call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
For Fethard RNLI, the anniversary was about more than looking back.
It was a celebration of the people who have kept the station going through 30 years of service, the families and friends who have supported them, and a community whose generosity has helped make the station's lifesaving work possible.
And while there was plenty of time to remember the past, there was also a clear sense of looking ahead.
The next generation of Fethard RNLI volunteers will carry the station's lifesaving tradition into the future, continuing the commitment to be there for those in need on the water.
Fethard RNLI would like to thank everyone who attended the open day and everyone who has supported the station over the past 30 years.
Three decades of service, community and lifesaving and a tradition that continues.
