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Fethard Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 52°11′16″N 6°50′18″W / 52.1877°N 6.8382°W / 52.1877; -6.8382
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Fethard Lifeboat Station
Flag of the RNLI
Fethard lifeboat station in 2006
Fethard Lifeboat Station is located in Ireland
Fethard Lifeboat Station
Map of Ireland showing Fethard-on-Sea
General information
TypeLifeboat station
LocationFethard-on-Sea
CountryIreland
Coordinates52°11′16″N 6°50′18″W / 52.1877°N 6.8382°W / 52.1877; -6.8382
OpenedFirst lifeboat 1886
Current building 2002
OwnerRNLI
Website
RNLI: Fethard Lifeboat Station

Fethard Lifeboat Station is the base for a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) inshore lifeboat at Fethard-on-Sea on the south coast of County Wexford, Ireland.

The RNLI first stationed a lifeboat at Fethard in 1886 but the station was closed in 1914 after most of the crew was killed while trying to save a ship that had run aground. The inshore lifeboat station was established in 1996.

First station

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The 1886 boathouse

The RNLI provided a lifeboat to cover the area around Waterford Harbour in 1869. This was stationed at Duncannon but was equipped with a carriage so that it could be taken to other launching sites.[1]

On 14 February 1881 it had been launched from Fethard to rescue people from the Earl Beaconsfield which had run aground. It was later decided to close Duncannon and replace it with a station at Fethard. A boathouse was built for £603 and the lifeboat arrived in 1886.[2][3]

Fethard lifeboat disaster

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The survivors of the Mexico arrive at Waterford

The Norwegian schooner Mexico got into difficulties during a gale on the afternoon of Friday 20 February 1914. It had a crew of ten and was carrying a cargo of mahogany from South America to Liverpool but ran aground on South Keeragh Island. The Fethard lifeboat launched to rescue the crew from the Mexico. The lifeboat was about 50 yd (46 m) from the wreck when a large wave swamped it and it too was driven against the rocks.

Nine of the lifeboat's crew were drowned but five managed to get onto the island. Two of the schooner's crew had managed to get ashore in the ship's boat but the lifeboat crew managed to bring the remaining eight people onto the island but now the survivors of the two crews were marooned. Lifeboats from Dunmore East, Kilmore and Wexford all came to help rescue them but the sea conditions meant they were unable to reach the island. The Chief Inspector of Lifeboats arrived from London on Sunday afternoon and went out with the Dunmore East lifeboat to make another attempt but was still unable to reach the stranded men.

Another attempt was made early on Monday morning. The Kilmore lifeboat had returned to its station but the Dunmore East lifeboat had stayed at Fethard and the other lifeboat remained in Waterford Harbour with the steam tug that had towed it from Wexford. The lifeboats could not land on the island but a line was got across on which two of the survivors could were guided about 100 yd (91 m) through the water to the Dunmore East lifeboat. James Wickham and William Duggan form the Wexford crew used a skiff from the tug to reach the island and rescue the others, two at a time. On the second trip to the island the skiff hit the rocks but the hole in the boat was stopped up by a loaf of bread that was wrapped in oilskins.

As well as the nine lifeboat volunteers that drowned, one man from the Mexico died of exposure on the island. The others survived two nights outside in the storm with no shelter. They had no water, just a little brandy and wine which had been saved from the ship; the only food was two tins of meat and a few limpets.

The survivors of the Fethard lifeboat crew were awarded silver medals by the King of Norway.[4][5]

The RNLI had already decided in 1913 to close Fethard when a motor lifeboat could be provided for Dunmore East. Its closure was confirmed just two months after the lifeboat disaster.[6][7]

Inshore lifeboat station

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The RNLI decided in 1995 to station an inshore lifeboat at Fethard. A crew was trained and a lifeboat ready on 10 July 1996. New temporary facilities were opened in January 1999.[3] A bungalow was converted into a lifeboat station and was ready for use by 2002.[8]

Area of operation

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The inshore lifeboat at Fethard has a range of 3 hours and top speed of 25 kn (46 km/h).[9] Adjacent stations with all-weather lifeboats are at Kilmore Quay to the east and Dunmore East to the west.[10]

Fethard lifeboats

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Between 1886 and 1914 the station was home to 'pulling and sailing' lifeboats equipped with 10 oars but also sails for when conditions allowed.

Since 1996 it has been the base for a D-class inshore lifeboat.

At Fethard ON Name Class Built Comments
1886–1897 100 Helen Blake Self-Righter 1885 [2][11]
1897–1905 301 Helen Blake Self-Righter 1878 Originally stationed at Wexford where it was named Civil Service No. 1.[12]
1905–1914 546 Helen Blake Self-Righter 1905 Wrecked in service.[13][14]

Inshore lifeboats

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At Fethard Op. No. Name Model Comments
1996–1997 D-445 AXA Life Insurer EA16 First deployed as a relief lifeboat in 1993.[15]
1997–1998 D-378 — EA16 First deployed as a relief lifeboat in 1988.[15]
1998–2007 D-528 Arthur Harris EA16 [16]
2007 D-504 Spirit of the RFC EA16 First stationed at Torbay in 1996.[16]
2007–2018 D-683 Tradewinds IB1 [17]
2018– D-819 Naomh Dubhan IB1 [18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 111.
  2. ^ a b "Additional stations and new life-boats". Life-boat. Vol. 13, no. 142. 1886. p. 196.
  3. ^ a b "Fethard's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  4. ^ "The Fethard Life-Boat Disaster". Life-boat. Vol. 22, no. 252. 1914. pp. 144–146.
  5. ^ Doe, Helen (2024). One Crew. Amberley Publishing. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-1-3981-2235-2.
  6. ^ "Summary of the Meetings of the Committee of Management". Life-boat. Vol. 22, no. 250. 1913. p. 94.
  7. ^ "Summary of the Meetings of the Committee of Management". Life-boat. Vol. 22, no. 253. 1914. p. 172.
  8. ^ "Building Reflections". The Lifeboat. Vol. 22, no. 250. 2003. pp. 26–28.
  9. ^ Cameron, Ian (2009). Riders of the Storm. Orion Books. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-7528-8344-1.
  10. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 119.
  11. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 6–7.
  12. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 14–15.
  13. ^ "New life-boats". Life-boat. Vol. 19, no. 219. 1906. p. 584.
  14. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 24–25.
  15. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 78–79.
  16. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 81.
  17. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 83.
  18. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 86.
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