Valentia Island Lifeboat Mechanic Retires After Decades Of Service With RNLI

THE RNLI at Valentia Island is marking the retirement of long-serving mechanic Leo Houlihan who is stepping down after 38 years in the RNLI, 34 of which were as station mechanic on the Kerry based lifeboat.

Leo grew up surrounded by the RNLI. His grandfather was a Coxswain at Valentia, his uncle was a mechanic at Dunbar RNLI in Scotland while another uncle was crew member at Valentia.

His father Joe Houlihan, was the station mechanic at Valentia RNLI from 1960 to 1993 and was awarded a bronze medal for rescuing, in the lifeboat’s boarding boat, two men from a canoe that capsized in a northerly near gale.

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Leo began his volunteer journey at Valentia RNLI in 1988 before taking on the full time mechanic role in January 1993.

The first lifeboat he served on was the 18 knot Arun class lifeboat, the Margaret Frances Love. By 1996, Valentia RNLI would have a fabulous new lifeboat station built with the first 25 knot Severn class lifeboat to be stationed in Ireland.

Leo has been on many call outs during his time where Valentia lifeboats and their crews have brought people to safety. Many of the incidents that have stayed with him are where a rescue was not possible, but the lifeboat was able to bring loved ones home.

“Families would come to the station afterwards to thank us for our efforts,” Leo said. ‘It was their gratitude, strength and dignity that has always stayed with me. Being able to bring a loved one home meant so much to those families.”

Leo was part of the crew that took their Severn class lifeboat to Buckie in the northeast of Scotland, for refit in 2006.

“We left Valentia Island, stopping at the Aran Islands, Arranmore, Barra, Stornoway and Longhope in Hoy, before arriving in Buckie, island hopping if you like, meeting great people along the way. Every station has its own story, but each team of volunteers share the same passion for saving lives at sea. The welcome we received at each station made the voyage something we will never forget.”

Leo paid tribute to those who supported him throughout his service.

“I’d like to acknowledge all my family and close friends for their support throughout my time in the RNLI, particularly my father whose experience in his role meant I always got sound advice and help was always readily available, especially in those early years.

“A special thanks to my wife Martina, and my children. Martina was there at the beginning and always accepted all that went with the full-time role on a lifeboat, particularly through the difficult early years, as I tried hard to earn the respect and confidence of the lifeboat crew.

“I’ve been very lucky to have worked alongside two excellent full time Coxswains in Seanie Murphy and Richard Quigley, both very experienced, reliable and skilled operators.’

Leo said the heart of any lifeboat station are its volunteers: “I’d like to acknowledge the many assistant Coxswains, mechanics, navigators, crew members, launch authorities, fundraisers and treasurers I’ve served with over 38 years who made it possible to go to sea in all weathers and respond to all situations we were tasked to. Thank you too, to the three dedicated Lifeboat Operations Managers I’ve worked with, Paddy Gallagher, Richard Foran and Colum O’Connell who managed and represented our station so well. Thank you to my RNLI colleagues across the Irish and UK regions. A big thanks to all the staff, past and present, at Valentia Coast Guard, the helicopter crews and all the rescue units in our surrounding area for all the help and support over the years.

“Finally I’d like to thank everyone for all the lovely messages on my retirement and wish my successor, Dominic Lyne the best of luck in his new job.”

Jennifer Grey, RNLI Area Operations Manager said: “Leo’s dedication to both the lifeboat and to the volunteers at Valentia Island is unmatched. He has missed birthdays and football matches to make sure that the lifeboat is always ready to launch. It has been an absolute honour to work alongside him, and I wish Leo all the best in his retirement.”