Dun Laoghaire RNLI stars in TV show

DUN Laoghaire’s brave lifeboat men were featured on a top RTE TV show last week.

A number of the lifeboat station’s volunteer crew took time out to spend the afternoon filming for RTE2’s Young People’s programme Elev8.

A segment of the show broadcast last Thursday, which is called Fact Finders, followed presenter Sean Regan and 10-year-old Justin Lazarev from Dublin as they go head to head to find out as much as they can about the RNLI.

Justin and Sean were welcomed to the station by Stephen Wynne, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager.

They were then given a tour around both the inshore and all-weather bases by Billy Scully, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Education and Visits Officer.

Billy is also a former member of the crew.

The reporters were also brought on board the all-weather lifeboat, which was launched under Coxswain David Branigan with mechanic Rory Bolton and crewmembers Jack Shanahan, Ronan Adams and Dave Farrell on board.

David, who is also the Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at the station, said filming with RTE’s Elev8 was a great opportunity to showcase the volunteer ethos that exists at Dun Laoghaire and indeed, the many other communities around the coast.

“Volunteers come from all walks of life within their communities,

? he explained.

“The crew here in Dun Laoghaire will readily exchange leisure, comfort and sleep for cold, wet and fatigue as is required.

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Last year Dun Laoghaire RNLI brought the highest number of people to safety in Ireland with 76 individuals rescued by their volunteer lifeboat crews during 46 callouts.

Speaking after the filming, Justin’s mother, Adriana, said:

“It is so refreshing to see that there are still people out there with a big heart who would risk their own lives to save others without looking for a financial gain. I was really impressed by their dedication, courage and humanity.

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