Open day at Lough Ree RNLI boathouse on Saturday

Lough Ree RNLI throws open the doors of its €1.2m boathouse with an open day for members of the public on Saturday next June 22 at Coosan Point, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Ever present on the lake since 2012 the charity and its volunteers have assisted more than 1,500 people in over 500 call-outs over the past 12 years. Today more than 40 volunteers make up the response team at Lough Ree RNLI.

Starting at 1pm next Saturday (June 22) the public will have an opportunity to visit and explore the new facility including state of the art boathall, crew room and the Paul Browne Room, a training room named in memory of Lough Ree RNLI’s first station mechanic.

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Volunteer boat crew will also be on hand to demonstrate the launch and display the ‘on the water’ capabilities of the charity’s Atlantic B Class lifeboat the ‘Tara Scougall’. The ‘on call’ crew will also be on standby to respond to any call-out in the course of the afternoon.

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Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Operations Manager Kevin Ganly says: ‘we are looking forward to welcoming the public to the boathouse on Saturday, it is a way of showing our appreciation of the generous support the charity has received from the public in the midlands and beyond over the years.’

Younger visitors will have the added attraction of face painting and fun in the boathall while colleagues from other emergency services including Gardai, Defence Forces, Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service will all be in attendance unless called into service.

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Visitors will have an opportunity to purchase RNLI merchandise from the charity’s shop in the station and light refreshments will be served. The open day concludes at 4pm.

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