Crowds turn out for naming of Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat

A large crowd turned out in the sunshine on Saturday afternoon to witness the naming of the new Shannon class lifeboat Val Adnams which is based at Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat station.

The state-of-the-art lifeboat was officially named by the principal donor Val Adnams who was guest of honour at the naming ceremony, having travelled from Idaho to Courtmacsherry with a small group of friends and family.

A lifelong supporter of the RNLI and an avid sailor and sportsperson, Ms Adnams grew up in Preston and Weymouth.

Her respect and admiration for the RNLI increased as she witnessed the callouts of the local Weymouth Lifeboat going to the help of others in distress at sea. At 23, she moved to Washington DC where she worked on Capitol Hill for some years, before meeting her partner Ed and settling in Idaho.

Guests at the ceremony included Mayor of County Cork Councillor Frank O’Flynn, Tánaiste Michéal Martin, RNLI Head of Region Anna Classon, RNLI Director of Engineering and Supply Jamie Chestnutt, Coast Guard Head of Operations Gerard O’Flynn, and a large number of search and rescue colleagues from local lifeboat stations and Coast Guard Units.

Speaking before those in attendance on Saturday, Ms Adnams said: “It is a great honour and privilege to have funded this Shannon class lifeboat. It warms my heart to know that this lifeboat will be helping the crew to keep the waters around Courtmacsherry lifeboat station safe.

“Most of the crew are volunteers who give up their time to help others. This lifeboat is the best of its kind and the crew who will use it, deserve nothing less.” 

The lifeboat was received on behalf of the station by the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Operations Manager, Brian O’Dwyer, who opened his remarks by paying tribute to his predecessor, Gerry Turner, who had passed away after an illness the day before.

He went on to thank the donor for her generous gift and praised the capability of the new lifeboat, which has introduced the latest in marine propulsion technology to the station.

The lifeboat is replacing the station’s previous all-weather lifeboat Frederick Story Cockburn, which over its life at the station went on 370 callouts.

The ceremony included a service of dedication and was closed by a rousing chorus of the Phil Coulter lifeboat anthem ‘Home from the Sea’ led by the former station mechanic Michéal Hurley.