Search
18 Nov 2025
Search
18 Nov 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
RNLI members, their families and the wider lakeside community gathered to celebrate volunteerism
At a special evening in Athlone on Wednesday, November 12, the RNLI presented long service awards to six local volunteers for a lifetime of commitment to the charity. Lough Ree RNLI also marked the contribution of two recently retired GPs who gave medical support to the station since its opening.
On a special evening in The Bounty, Athlone, RNLI members, their families and the wider lakeside community gathered to celebrate volunteerism. Special long service awards were presented to three local couples who have raised funds for the charity since 1975 and the contribution of two local doctors since 2012 was marked.
Read more: Top award for Longford: Progressive Lanesboro Triathlon Club wins national accolade
Lough Ree RNLI founder Damien Delaney was honoured for 50 years of service while his wife Bridie received a 30-year award. Vincent Rafter, Chair of Lough Ree RNLI Fundraising was a recipient of a 40-year award alongside his wife Terry who was presented with a 30-year award. Jill Walsh was honoured for 30 years’ service while her husband Declan was a recipient of a 20 year award.
Presenting the awards Brian Wilson, Area Fundraising Manager, RNLI said: ‘the generosity of the volunteers generated more than €350,000 to the charity. Events ranged from Flag Day collections in Athlone in the 1970’s to the raising of €100,000 locally as a community contribution to the new boathouse on Lough Ree.’
Specially commissioned RNLI Certificates of Thanks were presented to Dr. Graham Kearon and Dr. Mark McCormick, both recently retired, who had served as Lifeboat Medical Officers since the establishment of the service in 2012.
Read more: Level 4 security course offered to interested Longford individuals
Newly appointed Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Dave McCourt thanked both doctors for ’26 years of dedicated volunteering and diligent support of the lifeboat crew since its foundation.’
Next up at Lough Ree RNLI is the family Christmas Open Day on Sunday, December 7 next from 2-5pm. This is a great opportunity to see the work the charity does in the community and for younger members to meet Santa on his annual visit to the lifeboat station.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
