Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Station  

Saving lives at sea since 1857

Sunday 1st June 2008

Wicklow all weather lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched at 1645hrs this afternoon to assist a small pleasure craft with engine problems near Brides Head. Conditions on scene was described as Slight sea with North Easterly wind Force 3 , Cloudy with good visibilty. The lifeboat was alongside the casualty at 1652hrs , the craft was taken in tow back to Wicklow harbour , and 3 persons were landed safely. The lifeboat returned to Station.

Crew Coxswain Nick Keogh , Mechanic Brendan Copeland , Terry Sillery , Brendan Kavanagh , Lisa O Leary Vincent Long , Carol Flahive and James O Brien.

Shorecrew John Sillery , John Hayden , Brian Heffernan , Dave O Leary , Barry Spenser and Ruth McKay

Wednesday 14^th May 2008

Wicklow all weather and inshore RNLI lifeboats were launched on Wednesday afternoon to search the Coast at Magheramore , South of Wicklow head. The alarm was raised after the Coastguard received a call from a surfer at Maghermore Beach to say he though he might have seen what looked liked a body in the sea close to shore . The lifeboats were quickly on scene and conducted searches of the area inshore and offshore, they were assisted by Coastguard units from Wicklow and Greystones who searched along cliffs and shoreline , despite a extensive search over the entire area nothing was located and no persons were reported missing. A seal had been sighted in the area over the last few days and it was the most likely his presence that sparked the search. Confident that no body was in the sea, the lifeboats were stood down and returned to station after searching for over 2 hours. Operations Manager Des Davitt praised the vigilant surfer for reporting the sighting.

All weather lifeboat  Crew Coxswain Nick Keogh , Mechanic Brendan Copeland , Terry Sillery , Brendan Kavanagh , Dave O Leary and James O Brien.

Inshore Lifeboat Crew (Helm) Barry Spenser , Carol Flahive and Ruth McKay.

Shorecrew John Sillery , John Hayden , Brian Heffernan , Tom McAulay and Lisa O Leary

Sunday 20th April 2008

Wicklow inshore lifeboat RNLB SHERINGHAM SHANTYMEN  launched at 1000hrs this morning for a crew excercise in the bay , at 1025hrs she was requested to assist the Local Coastguard Unit search along the river towards the Railway bridge and lakes , after a person was reported missing.The crew conducted a extensive search along the river and returned to Station. It later came to light that the person turned up at another location safe and well.

Crew Carol Flahive (Helm) , Ruth Byrne , Mark Kavanagh and Tommy Murphy.

Shore crew Brian Heffernan .

Thursday 10th April 2008

Wicklow all weather lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched at 1638hrs this afternoon to assist a small fishing vessel with engine problems North of Wicklow Harbour. Conditions on scene was described as Slight sea with Easterly wind Force 2/3 and good visibilty.

The lifeboat was alongside the casualty at 1710hrs , and a towline was established , the trawler with 3 crew was towed safely into Wicklow Harbour at 1800hrs.

Crew Coxswain Nick Keogh , Mechanic Brendan Copeland, Dave O Leary , Lisa O Leary , Terry Sillery and James O Brien

Shore crew John Sillery , John Hayden , Brian Heffernan , Carol Flahive and Tommy Murphy.

Monday 4th February 2008

Wicklow all weather lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched in rough sea shortly after 21-07hrs on Monday night ( 4^th February )  to investigate 2 reported flare sightings South of Wicklow harbour. The lifeboat under the command of Coxswain Nick Keogh and 5 volunteer crew put to sea immediately and

conducted a extensive search stretching from the Glen Strand to the Silver Strand , weather conditions at the time was described as wind  force 4/5 South Easterly with a 3 metre swell , and poor visibility .

A unit of Wicklow Coastguard searched along the shore line , nothing was found after a Exhaustive search of the area . The lifeboat was stood down at 22-20hrs and returned to Station.

Crew Coxswain Nick Keogh , Mechanic Brendan Copeland, Ciaran Doyle , Tom McAulay , Carol Flahive and Mark Kavanagh

Shore crew John Sillery , John Hayden  and Tommy Murphy.

Monday 21th January 2008

Wicklow all weather lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched at 0910am on Monday 21 January 2008 after a small fishing vessel with 3 crew onboard developed mechanical problems near the 6 Mile Point, North of Wicklow harbour and requested assistance. Weather conditions at the time were wind South West force 5/6 with rough sea, the lifeboat was alongside the stricken vessel at 0940am and a towline was quickly established, the fishing vessel was taken in tow and safely secured alongside the North Quay at Wicklow harbour by 1045am. The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service by 1115am.

Crew Brendan Copeland, Dave O Leary, Carol Flahive, Wayne Jones, Kevin Rahill and Barry Spenser.

Shore crew John Sillery , Brian Heffernan , Lisa O Leary, Tom McAulay and Tommy Murphy.

Wednesday 19th December 2007

Wicklow lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched at 9am , after a report that a upturned boat was drifting off Brittas bay , the lifeboat conducted a search from Rockfield to Mizzen Head , the crew located some drifting debris 2 miles East of Mizzen Head  , the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station at 10-55hrs.

Tuesday 11 September 2007

Wicklow lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched at 9-25am to assist a small fishing vessel off the Wicklow Coast. The fishing vessel with 3 crew onboard developed mechanical problems 3 miles north of the North India bouy. Weather conditions at the time were slight sea with North Easterly wind force 2-3 . The lifeboat was alongside the trawler at 9-55am , and a tow line was quickly established , the fishing vessel was taken in tow back to Wicklow harbour and was safely alongside the East pier at 11-25am.

Wicklow Inshore lifeboat RNLB SHERINGHAM SHANTYMEN was launched at 14-30pm to investigate a report of a canoeist in difficulties near Brides head , the lifeboat was quickly at the scene and a lone canoeist was located , he was in no immediate danger and the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

Saturday 1st September 2007

While on exercise in Wicklow bay on Saturday evening Wicklow RNLI inshore lifeboat RNLB SHERINGHAM SHANTYMEN went to the assistance of 2 swimmers outside of the harbour. Both swimmers were quickly taken out of the water and landed safely ashore by the lifeboat crew.

Thursday 23 August 2007

Saturday 18th August 2007

Wicklow lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER was launched at 2-18pm on Saturday 18^th August under the command of Coxswain Nick Keogh and 6 crew, to assist a small whelk fishing vessel.

The alarm was raised after the fishing vessel experienced mechanical failure near the West Codling buoy off the Wicklow Coast. The lifeboat was alongside the stricken vessel at 3pm and a tow line was swiftly established, weather condition’s at the time were described as Cloudy with moderate visibility, wind was South Westerly force 1,

The lifeboat towed the fishing vessel back to Wicklow harbour and had her safely alongside the South quay at 4–10pm. The lifeboat returned to Station and was made ready for service by 4-45pm.

Friday 3rd August 2007

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboats RNLB ANNIE BLAKER and SHERINGHAM SHANTYMEN launched at 5-49pm on Friday evening (3^rd August 2007 ) after the Coastguard was alerted of a wind surfer in difficulties off the beach at Kilcoole . Weather conditions at the time were wind Westerly Force 4 with choppy seas.

While the lifeboats were racing to the scene the Coastguard received a report that the wind surfer had managed to get ashore, the lifeboats were stood down just after 6-05pm and returned to station .

Saturday 28th July 2007

Wicklow lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER was launched at 5-11pm on Saturday evening (28^th July 2007) after the Coastguard was alerted of a swimmer in difficulties off Magherabeg , South of Wicklow head , the inshore lifeboat SHERINGHAM SHANTYMEN was also launched and raced to the scene.

The alarm was raised after a swimmer was sighted in difficulties about half a mile off the beach at Magherabeg near Ardmore Point , onlookers then lost sight of the swimmer and were concerned for his safety. At 5 –19pm the 2 lifeboats were stood down as the Coastguard got a report that the male swimmer managed to get ashore .

All weather lifeboat Crew

Nick Keogh ( Coxswain)   , Brendan Copeland (Mechanic) , Terry Sillery , Vincent Long , Kevin Rahill , Lisa O Leary .

Inshore Lifeboat Crew

Dave O Leary ( Helm) , Clodagh Haughton , Barry Spenser.

Shore crew John Sillery , John Hayden , Brian Heffernan and Carol Flahive

Extra News

On Saturday 28^th July 2007 members of Wicklow lifeboat Station brought a Relief Fleet Tyne Class lifeboat from Wicklow to Wales for overhaul , while on passage near the Welsh Coast on Saturday afternoon they responded to a Coastguard report of a drifting life raft near Bardsey Island , the crew conducted a search of the area and recovered an unmanned liferaft. . Onboard were Ciaran Doyle,Tommy McAulay, James O Brien, Liam Kavanagh and Wayne Jones.

21 July 2007

Wicklow RNLI lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched at 11-50pm on Saturday night (21^st July) to investigate 2 distress flare sightings South of Wicklow head.

The lifeboat under the command of Coxswain Nick Keogh conducted an intensive search from Mizzen Head back towards Wicklow head after a passing ship contacted the Coastguard to report red flares in the area. The Dublin based Coastguard helicopter was also tasked and assisted in the search operation. Nothing was located during a sweep of the area. The lifeboat was stood down at 01-35am on Sunday morning and returned to Wicklow harbour.

Lifeboat Operation’s Manager Des Davitt said he was disheartened by the fact that this was possibly a hoax resulting from the callous use of emergency distress flares by someone as a prank .

Crew Nick Keogh (Coxswain) Dave Maloney (Mechanic) Barry Spenser , Vincent Long , Kevin Rahill , Terry Sillery , Liam Kavanagh and Dave O Leary.

Shorecrew John Sillery , John Hayden , Tom McAulay and Paddy Roche.  

Thursday 5th July 2007 

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER was launched in Gale force 8 conditions at 22-49hrs tonight Thursday 05^th July 2007 to assist a 37 foot yacht with mechanical problems 2 miles south east of Greystones .The lifeboat reached the casualty at 22-35hrs and a tow line was quickly established .The yacht with 4 male and one female crew onboard was taken in tow and the Lifeboat proceeded to Wicklow Harbour. The lifeboat and casualty arrived safely back in port at 01.15am on Friday 6th July..

Coxswain Nick Keogh said” The conditions were horrendous and we were delighted to arrive at the casualty and take boat and crew safely back to Wicklow”.

Crew Nick Keogh (Coxswain) , Brendan Copeland (Mechanic), Ciaran Doyle (2^nd Coxswain), Dave O Leary , Vincent Long, James O’Brien, Carol Flahive and Lisa O’Leary. 

Shorecrew assisting were John Sillery, Brian Heffernan, Ruth Byrne, Kevin rahill, Dave Moloney, Clodagh Haughton and Paddy Roche.  

Wednesday 27th June 2007

Thursday 21st June 2007

Wicklow RNLI ALB lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER was launched at 6-11pm this evening  to assist a 30 foot yacht with a rope fouled in her propellor off the Wicklow Coast . The lifeboat was alongside the casualty with 3 sailors onboard at 6-20pm.The Northern Ireland registered yacht out of Howth for Arklow was towed into Wicklow port by the lifeboat at 7 -15pm. Weather conditions at the time was cloudy with rough sea , wind was North East 4 - 5 knots. RNLB ANNIE BLAKER returned to station and was refuelled and ready for service at 8pm.

Crew Coxswain Nick Keogh , Mechanic Brendan Copeland , Tommy McAulay , Ciaran Doyle , Carol Flahive , Wayne Jones and Dave Maloney.

Saturday 16th June 2007

Wicklow RNLI all weather lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched at 10-55am Saturday morning after the Coastguard received a call for assistance from a lone yachtsman near the Codling buoy off the Wicklow Coast.The lifeboat under the command of Ciaran Doyle was quickly underway to an English registered yacht with a rope fouled propellor , the lifeboat was alongside the stricken vessel at midday and crew member Terry Sillery went onboard the yacht , a tow line was quickly established , and the yacht was taken in tow back to Wicklow harbour , Terry stayed onboard the yacht to assist the lone sailor who had been at sea for over 72 hours while on passage from Southampton to Belfast . Wind conditions at the time was Northerly Force 2 with Good visibility.The lifeboat brought the yacht alongside the East pier at Wicklow harbour at 3-05pm much to the relief of the tired sailor.

Friday 1st June 2007

Wicklow ALB lifeboat RNLB ANNIE BLAKER launched at 5-14pm to assist a English registered yacht with a rope fouled in her propeller near Wicklow head , the lifeboat was alongside the yacht by 5-30pm and a tow line was quickly established , the vessel with a lone yachtman onboard was towed into Wicklow harbour and moored alongside the East pier at  5-40pm . The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service by 6-15pm.

Crew  - Ciaran Doyle , Brendan  Copeland , Brendan Kavanagh , Mark  Kavanagh , Carol Flavhive , Dean  McCoy , James O Brien and Dave  Maloney.

Shore crew - John Sillery , John Hayden and Brian Heffernan. 

Thursday 02nd November 2006

The  inshore lifeboat RNLB INBHEAR DEAS launched  at 17- 02 hours with Helmsman J O Brien and 2 crew , after a man was reported to have fallen down cliffs near the Glen Strand , the lifeboat was quickly at the scene and a  man was taken onboard the lifeboat by Carol Flahive and Ruth Byrne and brought back to Wicklow lifeboat station , he was badly shaken and slighly bruised but unhurt , 

Crew list  James O Brien ( helm ) Ruth Byrne and Carol Flahive.

Saturday 26th August 2006

The RNLB Annie Blaker  launched  at 17-09 hours under the command of 2nd Coxswain Ciaran Doyle to assist a motor cruiser crew with mechanical problems 3 miles North East of Wicklow harbour . The lifeboat was quickly alongside the vessel , onboard were 2 children and a man ,  the 2 children were transferred onto the lifeboat , and a tow line was established . The lifeboat arrived back in Wicklow harbour at 18-05hours with the small cruiser in tow and landed a father and 2 children safely at the East pier.

Crew list  ( 2nd Cox ) C Doyle ,  T McAulay , B Spenser , J O Brien , D O Leary , V Long and B Kavanagh

Shorecrew  J Sillery , J Hayden and B Copeland .  

Friday 21st July 2006

The crew of the Wicklow RNLI lifeboat Annie Blaker answered two call outs to vessels in difficulty off Wicklow.  The first concerned an 12,000 tonne container ship, while the second, which was received while the crew were on scene with the first call-out, was to aid a local trawler experiencing engine trouble.

The lifeboat crew were alerted by the coast guard at 14.49 hours that an 12,000 tonne container ship, Plovdiv with 22 crew , had run aground on the south India bank.  There was a half tide at the time and the lifeboat crew were asked to monitor the situation as the crew of the vessel started pumping out ballast water.  It was at this time that the lifeboat crew were alerted to another call out. 

A local 12 metre trawler had experienced engine difficulties and the anchor was not holding four miles north east of Wicklow.  Coxswain Ciaran Doyle and the lifeboat crew immediately made their way to the stricken trawler and established a tow to assist the vessel to the safety of the harbour. 

After a crew change over , Station Coxswain Nick Keogh and the lifeboat crew returned to the cargo ship to continue monitoring the operation , at 22.00 hours the Maltese registered Plovdiv was refloated on the rising tide , and was able to resume her passage to Dublin port , Wicklow lifeboat was stood down at 22.10 hours and returned to station at 22.35 hours .  

Saturday 24th June 2006

RNLB Annie Blaker  was launched at 1735 hours to assist a yacht with a rope caught in her propeller 10 miles North East of Wicklow Harbour . The lifeboat reached the casualty at 1818 hours , the rope was released and the vessel with 2 people onboard was towed back to Wicklow harbour arriving at 2030 hours .  The lifeboat was back on Station at 2045 hours ready for service .