Lough Derg RNLI volunteers thank Catherine Gleeson on her retirement

TRIBUTES have been paid to a women who played a vital role in a Clare lifeboat station.

Catherine Gleeson stepped down after five years of being the deputy launching authority at the Lough Derg Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLI) lifeboat station.

She was effectively second in command, with her role being a key decision maker on whether lifeboats are launched into the sea or not.

Ms Gleeson was honoured with a party following Lough Derg RNLI's meeting this month.

A lawyer by profession, she said that she was sad to be leaving.

"It's been a great honour to volunteer at the Station for the past five years. I'm in awe of the dedication of the crew and have enormous respect for their bravery," she added.

Ms Gleeson described volunteering with RNLI as "a great privilege".

Her colleague, Christine O’Malley, the lifeboat operations manager at Lough Derg RNLI said that both she and Catherine joined the team at the same time.

Ms O'Malley said she valued her as a friend and fellow volunteer who offered "sage advice".

On behalf of the crew and operations team, volunteer helm Eleanor Hooker presented Catherine with the gift of an oil painting by Tipperary artist Áine Quinlan.

Eleanor thanked Catherine for all her hard work on behalf of the volunteers, her positivity and her brilliant sense of humour.