Lough Ree RNLI aims to move into new base in New Year

The Lough Ree RNLI is hoping to move into its new boathouse base at Coosan Point early in the New Year.

Work on the new boathouse has been continuing throughout 2021 and is now nearing completion, a spokeperson confirmed.

The crew of the Lough Ree RNLI had the opportunity to walk through the facility recently.

A fundraising campaign to raise a local community contribution of €100,000 towards the €1.2m project has been very successful and the local RNLI says the target is well within reach.

The balance of the overall funding required will be provided by the RNLI organisation.

The site of the new building at Dunrovin is located on the shore of Lough Ree at Coosan Point.

It was the original home of the Rice family, who generously bequeathed the site to the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) with the wish that the organisation would benefit from its use.

As part of a partnership between the RNLI and the IWAI, a shared home for the two organisations in Athlone will be developed.

The two premises will be connected to each other on the same site but will operate separately.

The RNLI is building a new boathouse to include boat storage for the Tara Scougall lifeboat, slipways, an office, changing and shower facilities, a workshop, lecture room and kitchen facilities.

Since its foundation in 2012, Lough Ree RNLI has been operating from a temporary station consisting of shipping containers at Coosan Point, and the new boathouse will provide modern facilities for volunteers and to house the lifesaving equipment.