Jerry Early named as Arranmore RNLI's new Lifeboat Operations Manager

Arranmore RNLI has announced Jerry Early to the role of Lifeboat Operations Manager.

Jerry is no stranger to the Arranmore lifeboat with an unbroken record of 43 years of service - first as a volunteer crew member, as second coxswain for 10 years, as Deputy Launch Authority and now as Launch Operations Manager.

A character on the island and further afield, Jerry is the owner of Early’s bar and restaurant, a singer/songwriter whose song “I’ll Go” was inspired by the Arranmore lifeboat rescue of the Stolwych crew in December 1940, a boat which went on the rocks in horrendous weather conditions.

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Jerry is also chairperson of the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation and is very much involved in the local community.

“As far as I can remember my first call out on the lifeboat was for a medical evacuation from the island,” Gerry said.

“My second call was to a boat with five people on board which was perilously close to rocks off the coast of Keadue. The boat was overdue and the lifeboat was asked to launch in search of the boat, we launched not knowing where the stricken boat was as it had lost all power but on the route, we saw a light flashing and proceeded to the area where the boat was located.

"The flashes were from a camera a member of the crew had, which was the only way to alert the lifeboat crew to its position, a tow rope was established and the boat was successfully towed into Burtonport with all five on board.

“Just as we were setting off back to base from Burtonport we were again alerted to a call for assistance off Glen Head where a person had fallen overboard a boat, unfortunately, we were unable to save the casualty. It was a long night but the coxswain, Bernard Byrne was an excellent seaman and we had faith in his ability to get us all safely back to the lifeboat station and make sure we were all cared for.’

On his appointment as Lifeboat Operations Manager, Jerry wanted to extend his thanks to Deputy Launch Authority, John Mc Cafferty who he said was a great help to himself and the station.

Gerry also wanted to thank all the crew and station personnel, particularly his predecessor Tony Ward, who gave many years of service as crew and manager.

“I would like to thank the crew and all involved with the Arranmore RNLI, we are in the process of extending our Launch Authority personnel to four,” he added. “We know that our dedicated volunteer crew will continue to add to the great history of the Arranmore RNLI that I am privileged to be part of.”

Area Operations Manager Martin Philips said: ‘I am extremely pleased that Jerry has taken on the role of Lifeboat Operations Manager of Arranmore Lifeboat Station, Jerry is a long-standing volunteer in both seagoing and management roles, and his experience and respect from both the station volunteers and the wider community is ideal for his new role, I am looking forward to working with Jerry to continue to manage and develop the RNLI lifesaving service in the area.”