THE CREW OF the RNLI lifeboat station at Dun Laoghaire in Dublin today held their traditional ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers that died on service in 1895 on Christmas Eve as well as all those who lost their lives around Irish coasts.
The short ceremony took place at the lighthouse end of Dun Laoghaire’s popular East Pier and included music, an ecumenical blessing, a contemporary newspaper account of the 1895 tragedy and a piped lament. Both RNLI lifeboats stationed at Dun Laoghaire launched and the crews laid wreaths at sea close to the pier.
The ceremony is a long-standing Christmas Eve tradition that remembers the lives of the 15 volunteer crew that died when their lifeboat capsized in gale force winds while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme that had run aground off Blackrock, Co Dublin. All lives lost at sea were also be included in the ceremony.
Relatives of the original 1895 lifeboat crew were among those who attended the 20-minute ceremony at the pier. Piper Paul McNally of Dublin Fire Brigade, musician William Byrne, and journalist Fergal Keane were also among the contributors to the event that has been facilitated by the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company.
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