RNLI - Christmas Eve Commemoration at East Pier Dun Laoghaire 2016

Dun Laoghaire RNLI held their annual Christmas Eve ceremony to remember all those who lost their lives at sea in the past year. The annual commemoration marks the anniversary of the 15 volunteer lifeboat crew members from Dun Laoghaire RNLI who died during a rescue on Christmas Eve in 1895. The short ceremony was held at the lighthouse at the end of the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire at midday on Christmas Eve. The service included music, an ecumenical blessing, a reading of a newspaper account printed at the time of the 1895 tragedy and concluding with a guard of honour for the wreath-bearers as they proceeded to sea on the lifeboats to lay the tributes. In previous years, two wreaths have been laid at sea but this year a third was added in memory of Caitríona Lucas of the Irish Coast Guard unit at Doolin who died during a search operation on 12 September this year. A Guard of Honour was provided by the Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit and Civil Defence volunteers while the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboats carried the wreaths to sea a short distance from the pier. All photographs copyright Margaret Brown.