The RNLI rescue figures for 2024 show that the charity’s lifeboats in Clifden, Galway City and the Aran Islands had a total of 104 rescue launches in 2024, coming to the aid of 94 people, with 38 of the launches carried out in the hours of darkness.
The extensive coastline of County Galway and the location of the Aran Islands at the edge of the Atlantic means that the RNLI volunteer crews in Galway play an important lifesaving role in their local communities.
As a charity, the RNLI is putting out its own ‘Mayday’ call, and urging the public to get involved with its national fundraising event, the Mayday Mile. Participants are challenged to cover a mile a day for the month of May, with every cent raised helping to make sure that the charity’s lifesavers have everything they need to keep people safe this summer and beyond.
Amy O’Connor, RNLI Area Operations Manager said that across the 46 stations on the island of Ireland, lifeboat crews launched 881 times last year and volunteer crews brought 1,007 people to safety.
Some 234 of those launches were carried out in the hours of darkness.
‘Usually it’s our lifeboats crews heading out to respond to Mayday calls, but now we’re the ones asking for help,”said Ms O’Connor.
“Thousands of people get into danger on and around the water each year and need our help, but everything we do is only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters.’
“The activity of the three lifeboat stations in County Galway show that demand for our services remains high, with our lifesavers dropping everything to run to the lifeboat station when the call comes.
“We’re now heading towards our busiest time of year, so we’re putting out our call for help to raise the funds which will help keep our lifesaving service going today, and allow us to be there when we’re needed most,” she said.
Whether you choose to walk, jog, hop or skip, a mile every day in May will help raise vital funds for RNLI lifesavers, so that they can continue to keep people safe at sea. To sign up for the Mayday Mile, or to make a donation in support of the RNLI’s lifesavers, visit RNLI.org/supportMayday
