FENIT RNLI Lifeboat has a double cause for celebration this weekend as it marks the 30th anniversary of the return of the service to a new base in Fenit harbour after an absence of 25 years, combined with the 200th anniversary of the lifesaving voluntary charity.

The station is hosting and open day on this Sunday at the Fenit Harbour Marina between 1-4pm. They will offer tours of the lifeboats where adults and children can experience the internal structure and mechanics of the lifeboats.

Other activities planned for the afternoon include music, an RNLI Shop with items for sale, tea/coffee, light refreshments, water rescue demonstration, Irish Coast Guard Rescue 115 may attend.

Continued below…

The lifeboat was based in Fenit until its closure in 1969 and was manned by many of the original fishermen in Fenit.

Conditions were primitive at that time but the commitment to save lives at sea never wavered. Ironically, many of today’s voluntary crew are descendants of the original crew.

In 1993, a group of people who believed firmly that a service was needed in Fenit began the task of trying to get the lifeboat re-instated and based at Fenit Harbour. After great determination and hard work the case presented was successful.

On June 29th 1994, much to the delight of a very large group gathered on Fenit Pier, an All Weather Lifeboat could be seen in the distance having departed from the RNLI Headquarters in Poole, Dorset, UK some days earlier.

There was approximately 5 crew on board the for that maiden journey who were welcomed home to a rapturous round of applause on an emotional but very proud day for all of those people who had dedicated so much of their time negotiating the case for reinstating the service.

Over the course of the last 30 years, a new lifeboat station has been built providing a permanent base from which the majority of the Life Boat Operations are co-ordinated.

Fenit Station is fortunate to have an All Weather Lifeboat which can generally go to sea in reasonably rough weather conditions. Whereas, the small Inshore Lifeboat tends to respond to calls closer ashore.

The geographical area covered by the lifeboat volunteers would cover between approximately beyond the Blasket Islands and reaching as far as Kilkee in Co. Clare in the other direction. The service has been launched in excess of 700 times since it’s return to service.

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