Spending their Christmas on call
The RNLI is launching its Christmas fundraising appeal, as its volunteer lifeboat crews selflessly prepare to spend their Christmas on call.
On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period every year, with 119 launches in 2024.
Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews including those at Lough Derg are ready to leave their celebrations with friends and family to battle the elements and save lives on the water.
These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected.
Christmas is a time for family and friends, but the RNLI’s volunteer crews are ready to leave their own celebrations this festive season and answer the call for help.
Among those preparing for a Christmas on call at Lough Derg RNLI are 12 neighbours whose houses are dotted along the road in the village of Dromineer. Simultaneously, they respond from door to door as their pagers go off and the call for help comes in. One of those neighbours is James Corballis, a native of Kilkenny who relocated from Galway to Dromineer with his fiancée in May 2024.
He said: “I moved to Galway after college and joined the lifeboat crew there in 2020. Then in 2024, my fiancée and I decided to move to Dromineer where we both have spent our summers sailing since we were children. The draw was the lake, and it was a bonus that I could keep my foot in the door by continuing to volunteer as a crew member with Lough Derg RNLI.”
When the pagers go off, James says his neighbours to his left, to his right, up and down the road, head off and they tend to meet at some point as they make their way to the lifeboat station.
A sound engineer by trade, James said there is great reward in being able to give your time: “The nature of my work can be seasonal, and I find I have a lot of time during the week to be available if needed. It is just great to be able to help out while also having the opportunity to be on the lake.”
As for being on call at Christmas, James commented that the approach will be the same as every other day of the year.
“But as volunteer lifeboat crew we couldn’t launch without kind donations from the public which fund the kit, training and equipment we need to save others and get home safely to our own families.”
HOW TO SUPPORT APPEAL
To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal.