The fine weather ensured a huge turnout for the 6^th annual Castletownbere Lifeboat Open Day held last Sunday afternoon at the scenic west Cork fishing village. The 52’ all weather Arun Class lifeboat “Roy & Barbara Harding” was berthed at the pier and on view from 2.00 to 5.00 p.m. and had a steady stream of over 400 visitors of all ages.

As in previous years there was a strong local interest giving the people of Beara an opportunity to come aboard, meet the crew, view the various items of lifesaving equipment, and ask questions of the crew. In addition, holidaymakers from many parts of Ireland came aboard and obviously enjoyed their visit judging by level of interest and many questions to the Coxswain and crew.

Many oversees visitors paid the lifeboat a visit drawn from the U.K., France, Denmark, Norway, Holland, the U.S. and Australia. The foreign visitors asked many questions regarding the funding of the lifeboat service and were especially interested in the voluntary aspect of the service with some of their own countries having similar search and rescue organisations.

As always a large number of young and enthusiastic children came aboard and enjoyed exploring the wheelhouse, engine room, survivors’ cabin and flying bridge. Lifeboat crew distributed balloons and other items to all children who visited.

Coxswain Brian O’Driscoll and Mechanic Brendan Gonnelly both stated that they were pleased the number of visitors was up on previous years. Coxswain O’Driscoll added that this was the last year that the “Roy and Barbara Harding” would be based in Castletownbere as it will be replaced in the autumn by a temporary lifeboat from Lochinver in Scotland, prior to the arrival of Castletownbere’s new  €2.6 million Severn Class lifeboat later next year.

ENDS