Wicklow RNLI welcomes community for successful annual Open Day
- Pat Nolan
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Wednesday 22 July 2026
Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Station welcomed hundreds of visitors on Sunday (19 July) for its annual Open Day, as the volunteer crew and fundraising team opened the station and lifeboats to the public for an afternoon of family fun, demonstrations and lifesaving advice.
In glorious sunshine, visitors enjoyed a warm welcome from the station's volunteers, who had worked tirelessly in the lead-up to the event to ensure everything was ready. The fundraising team kept everyone refreshed throughout the afternoon with tea, coffee, cakes and cold drinks, while volunteer crew members gave guided tours of the lifeboat station and the inshore lifeboat, answering questions from visitors of all ages.
Both of the station's lifeboats, the all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O'Shea and the D class inshore lifeboat Denis Audrey, were on display. Crew members explained the specialist equipment carried onboard and spoke about the different operational roles within the station. Visitors also enjoyed viewing a scale model of the station's former lifeboat, RNLB Annie Blaker, which attracted significant interest in the boathouse.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was a series of on-water demonstrations in Wicklow Harbour, showcasing the capabilities of the lifeboats during a simulated rescue. The demonstrations included a breeches buoy rescue, used to recover someone from land when the all-weather lifeboat cannot safely get close to shore, a man overboard exercise, and displays of the lifeboats' manoeuvrability. Nathan O'Connor kindly volunteered to enter the water during the demonstrations.
The station mascot, Stormy Stan, proved as popular as ever, spending the afternoon meeting young visitors and posing for photographs.
Visitors also had the opportunity to learn valuable water safety skills. Jimmy Myler ran a lifejacket clinic, offering advice on selecting the correct lifejacket for different activities and explaining the importance of regular maintenance. John Hayden shared practical guidance on the RNLI's Float to Live campaign, demonstrating the simple technique that could help save lives if someone unexpectedly enters cold water.
The event was supported by several emergency service and community organisations, including An Garda Síochána, the Irish Coast Guard, Community First Responders Wicklow Town, Medicall Ambulance Service and Codling Wind Park, all of whom showcased their equipment and spoke with members of the public about their work.
Visitors were also treated to a flypast by the Garda Air Support Unit helicopter, with the crew giving a friendly wave as they passed overhead. Throughout the afternoon, local musicians provided entertainment, including a traditional music session by members of The Boathouse CCE.
Speaking after the event, Wicklow RNLI Operations Manager Joe Healy said:
"We'd like to thank the public for visiting us today. Thanks to all the local businesses and supporters who helped us. It was great to see so many people come down and have a look around."
The crew are proud of their station, and the Open Day is our way of saying thanks to the local community for all the donations and support we receive throughout the year."
