The Isabella Purchase, deployed into action just minutes after its ceremonial launch on Tramore's Lower Promenade on Saturday last.
In better than anticipated weather conditions, Tramore RNLI’s new lifeboat, a D-class boat named the ‘Isabella Purchase’, was officially named and launched outside the National Lifeguard Training Centre on Saturday last.
And, as if to demonstrate the importance of lifeboat D-781, just moments after she was officially named and launched, crewmen Stephen Harris, David McGrath and Tom Doyle took to the water to answer a missing swimmer alert, west of Tramore Bay.
However, it was quickly established that the individual in question – a kite surfer – made his way safely back to the shore. Surf conditions at the time were considered quite high on what was a bright albeit blustery afternoon.
The new boat was officially launched by Mrs Finn Mongey, widow of the late Mr Finn Mongey, who served as Lifeboat Operations Manager at the Tramore Station from its re-opening in 1964 through to his retirement in 1984.
Replacing the Trá Mhór vessel, the new lifeboat is named in honour of Mrs Ivy Purchase (who died in 2010), better known as Isabella, who left her entire estate to the RNLI to provide a lifeboat in her name.
The Trá Mhór, which had been provided to the Tramore RNLI by the people of Tramore, had put in a decade of service, during which she was launched 127 times, rescuing over 100 people during its ‘active life’ on the water.
Speaking to The Munster Express, Tramore RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Derek Musgrave said everyone in the station was “sincerely grateful to the late Mrs Purchase for her generous and life-saving gift”.
He added: “This lifeboat is the vessel that will carry our volunteer lifeboat crew out to sea to save lives and onboard it – our volunteer lifeboat crew will learn and develop their skills through extensive training.
“This is the newest addition to Ireland’s life-saving fleet; and it saw immediate action last Saturday, which was a real-time reminder of what a vital resource such a boat is in an area with so much water-based activity.”
Built at a cost of €62,000, the D-class inshore lifeboat can operate in shallow water and therefore get closer to cliffs and some headlands than the larger vessels in the RNLI fleet, including Dunmore East’s Trent class ‘Elizabeth and Ronald’, for example.
Described as “the workhouse of the charity for nearly 50 years”, the D-class is inflatable, robust and highly manoeuvrable and can operate in coastal caves if so required.
Five metres long, the boat can carry a maximum of three crew, can remain at sea for three hours and has a top speed of 25 knots (29mph).
Last Saturday’s ceremony was addressed by RNLI Tramore Lifeboat Chairman Len Bell, who in turn introduced Mrs Sally Mongey to the gathering.
“I’m glad today for the sake of the lifeboat and that it’s doing so well,” Mrs Mongey told reporters in Tramore last Saturday. “And I hope they’ll continue to do so well.”
Mrs Mongey and her late husband moved to Tramore from the west of Ireland in 1958 “but we loved the place since we arrived and were made to feel welcome,” she added.
During the ceremony, RNLI Council Member Peter Crowley accepted the Isabella Purchase on behalf of the RNLI, and he in turn handed her into the care of Derek Musgrave on behalf of Tramore Lifeboat Station.
A service of dedication was led by outgoing Tramore curate Father Michael Toomey and the Reverend Maria Jansson, Dean of ChristChruch, Waterford. Following the service, Derek Musgrave invited Mrs Mongey to officially name the new boat the ‘Isabella Purchase’, before RNLI Tramore President Frank Nolan official brought proceedings to a close.
The Dordán Choir sang ‘Home From The Sea’ and just moments later, the new boat was on her first mission. Claire Musgrave and Damien Kehoe were the other vocalists who sang during the ceremony.
“We provide a 24-hour-a day, seven-days-a-week, 365 days a year service,” said Derek Musgrave. “The RNLI appreciates the continued support of the public throughout the 235 stations it operates in Ireland and Great Britain. Since its foundation in 1824, our crews and lifeguards have saved over 140,000 lives. We’re here to help when so required and we’re delighted that our ability to serve the people of Tramore and the wider coastal community has been aided by the provision of the Isabella Purchase.”
May the wind always blow fairly for both her and her crew.
Speaking at the dedication of the Isabella Purchase, Metropolitan Area Mayor Eamon Quinlan (FF) said: “This is a great day for the people of Waterford, in particular our coastal communities. For many years our people have risked their lives on the waters off our coast line.”
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Quinlan added: “We have endured too many tragedies in recent memory. Today we reaffirm our commitment to and the high value we place on the lives of our friends and neighbours who find themselves needing truly life saving help.
“By adding this new lifeboat to our service we give our local heroes the equipment they need to safely rescue those in times of crisis. Let us never forget the duty we owe them first and foremost, as we ask them to risk their lives to safeguard our loved ones so we must do ours in providing them with craft such as these to continually reaffirm our admiration for those valiant few to conduct an immeasurable service.”
Eamon Quinlan concluded: “The respect and high honour this service is afforded by the people of Waterford is because it is so extraordinary. These crews are made up of the people we know, work with and socialise with.
“They are the best of us as they place their very lives on the line to assist those unable to help themselves. They are us at our best and today we are out our best when we honour them and commit this new lifeboat to service. Long may she endure in keeping hope alive in our darkest hours.”
