Tipperary RNLI says farewell to Catherine after five years as deputy launching authority

Lough Derg RNLI volunteers have honoured Catherine Gleeson, who has stepped down as deputy launching authority after five years in the role.

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

It had been a “great honour to volunteer at the station for the past five years”, she said.

She said she was in awe of the dedication of the crew and had “enormous respect for your bravery out on a shout”.

Catherine said it had been a unique privilege when on duty to monitor and log the radio communications between the crew, the Coast Guard and casualty vessels.

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

Christine said she valued Catherine as a friend and fellow volunteer who offered sage advice as Christine took up the role of operations manager at the station in Dromineer.

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.

On more than one occasion Catherine had stayed on at the station with Eleanor whilst she wrote her report following a rescue.

Catherine will be missed as a valuable member of the station.