French students get ready to take to the water during a very enjoyable visit to the new Lough Ree lifeboat station.

New RNLI lifeboat station welcomes first visitors

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Ahead of its official opening on Saturday, June 11 next, the new Lough Ree lifeboat station at Coosan Point has been hosting its first visitors.

During a very busy first month, volunteer crews from the new station have been guiding visitors from near and far through the state-of-the-art facility in the first public tours of the base. The panoramic view from the new training room gave a new aspect of Lough Ree to the visitors.

First through the doors ahead of the May Bank Holiday were 18 guests from Moate Men's Shed accompanied by some partners who were greeted by volunteer crew led by Station Visits Officer Paul Kelly. The group had a first hand experience of the work of the charity when the volunteer crew were called out to assist a stricken cruiser on the lake during the course of the visit.

Members and friends from Moate Men's Shed pictured during a tour of the facilities at tne new Lough Ree lifeboat station at Coosan Point.

Early this month a group of 50 secondary school students from north east France arrived to experience the emergency procedures at first hand. The group of 15-18 year olds are part of a second level French programme which prepares students for a career in the emergency services. The visit to Lough Ree RNLI was part of an educational tour to Ireland.

In recent days a younger generation got their first experience of the charity’s work. Children from Clonbrusk Childcare Centre and first classes from neighbours at Coosan National School enjoyed exploring the lifeboat, trying out some of the gear and even timing themselves in ‘rapid response’!

Getting their kit on - eager students from Coosan national school recently paid a visit to the new Lough Ree lifeboat station and donned the standard uniform of bright yellow wellies and red lifejackets!

Station visits officer Paul Kelly said: "The charity looks forward to welcoming visitors of all generations to the Lifeboat Station. It is hoped to facilitate a number of visits each month with a waiting list already growing!"

All smiles during the recent visit by children from the Clonbrusk Childcare Centre to the new Lough Ree lifeboat station in Athlone.

Staff and volunteers at the new lifeboat station are eagerly looking forward to the official opening on Saturday, June 11 at 2pm, which will include the official naming of the charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’. Everyone is welcome to attend the celebrations which had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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