Youghal Lifeboat

History of

Youghal Lifeboat Station

Established 1839

A lifeboat was built for the harbour trustees in 1839 by Taylor of Limehouse, the cost of £76 being met by local subscription. In 1856 an Inspector found the lifeboat in a yard, and in a neglected state. The Institution took over the station in 1857. A Boydell's self acting endless railway was provided for carrying the boat along the soft beach of the locality.

1828     Silver Medal awarded to Lieut Morrison RN for the rescue, by using lines, of the crew of five from the sloop Mermaid that was wrecked in Whiting Bay while bound from Newport to Cork in February.

1836       Charles Edington, chief Officer of the Coastgaurd for the rescue of the crew of five of the Schooner Ann & Elizabeth that was wrecked off Youghal while bound from Newport to Youghal on 25 November 1835.

1840     Gold medal awarded to Lieut R R Metherell RN, who was in command of the Youghal Lifeboat when she rescued the crew of four from the Brig Medora that was wrecked in Ardmore Bay while bound for Swansea on 23 February.

1857     A lifeboat house constructed at a cost of £100. During the period to 1867, the lifeboat launched on 3 services and saved 14 lives.

1867     RNLB William Beckett of Leeds, a gift of the town of Leeds. Launched on 6 srvices and saved 5 lives.

1873     Helper M O'Brien was crushed to death between the carriage and the door post of the lifeboat house when the lifeboat was called on service on 30 December. The sum of £10 was granted to the widow of Mr O'Brien.

1876     A new lifeboat house constructed at a cost of £275.

1878     Tower Commissioners paid £20 for old lifeboat house.

1885     RNLB Mary Luckombe (self-righting). Legacy of Mrs Mary Luckombe of Brighton. Launched on 13 services and saved 22 lives.

1894     Silver Medal awarded to Mr J H Long, Honorary Secretary of the Youghal Branch for his gallant conduct in saving a young man from drowning on the foundering of the Yacht Seagull on 5 September. On learning that the man was unable to swim, Mr Long swam out to him and incurred imminent risk of losing his own life as the young man was struggling furiously and clutched him by the neck. ultimately they were both picked up by another yacht.

1901     Gas service laid on and a flagstaff supplied.

1905    Silver Medal awarded to the coxswain, michael Hannagan, and double pay to him and each of the lifeboat crew when the lifeboat rescued three of the crew of the schooner Annetta of Dungarvan which ran ashore opposite the railway station on 17 December 1905 in a strong SE gale, with a very heavy sea, while bound for Youghal with a cargo of coal. Two of the crew of the Annetta, the Master and one hand, had been lost while the other three crewmen were in the rigging, exhausted. Coxswain Hannagan took the lifeboat over the wreck atop of the seas breaking over her and plucked the three men, in turn, to safety

1906     RNLB Marianne L Hay (self-righting). Legacy of John A Hay of Cheltenham. Launched on 15 service calls and saved 21 lives.

1931     RNLB Laurana Sarah Blunt (self-righting motor). legacy of Dr G V Blunt of Birmingham. Launched on 18 service calls and saved 21 lives

1939     Centenary Vellum awarded to station.

1952     RNLB Herbert John (Liverpool - motor). provided from Legacies of Miss B A Ahill of London and Sidney M Poland of Betchworth. Launched on 14 service calls and saved 30 lives.

1963     Bronze Medal awarded to the coxswain, Richard Hickey, for rescuing four people from the French trawler Tee des Ondes that went ashore in Ardmore Bay in a strong SE  wind with rough sea on 27 October.

1966     RNLB J B Couper of Glasgow (Liverpool - motor). Provided by Legacy of Mr James B Couper DL, JP. of  Toward, Argyllshire. Launched on 8 service calls and saved 3 lives.

1968     Comhairle Na Mire Gaile Certificate awarded to Motor Mechanic John Murphy for rescuing a child who had fallen off the quay on 12 July.

1969     Comhairle Na Mire Gaile Certificate awarded to Bowman Michael Hennessy for rescuing a child who had fallen off the quay in the spring of 1969.

1971     RNLB Grace Darling (Liverpool - motor). Provided from the Institutions funds. Launched on 31 service calls and saved 17 lives. Temporary lifeboat also stationed at this time launched on 1 service call.

1983     An Atlantic 21 Marjory Turner  lifeboat sent to station.

1984     All weather lifeboat withdrawn.

1989     A 150th Anniversary Vellum awarded.

1996     In 1995, trials were carried out with a tractor and Do-Do rig and these trials revealed that a tractor method of launching the lifeboat was possible at this site. Proposals were therefore drawn-up for alterations to the boathouse, plus the removal of the present slipway rails, to allow a tractor to be housed in the boathouse and to enable the lifeboat to be launched and recovered satisfactorily, this was completed in October.

Inshore lifeboats stationed here from 1983 to date have launched on 219 service calls and saved 66 lives.

2002     Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat RNLB Patricia Jennings which was provided by the bequest of Patricia Jennings, late of Dorking, Surrey. Naming ceremony and Opening of the lifeboat house took place on 21 September.

MEDAL RECORD

Six medals have been awarded, one Gold, four Silver and one Bronze, the last being voted in 1963.