Lough Derg RNLI in combined exercise with Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service

Thursday 15 May 2025

Thirteen volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI had a combined exercise with firefighters from Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service at their base in Nenagh yesterday evening (Tuesday 13 May).

RNLI volunteers and firefighters standing in a row outside in front of a fire truck — Lough Derg RNLI Volunteers with Firefighters at Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service

While RNLI volunteers are trained to rescue those in peril on or in the water, they do not fight fires on casualty vessels. Firefighting is a highly specialised field and is left to those with relevant expertise in the fire service.

In the past Lough Derg RNLI and the Fire Service have responded to incidents in a multi-agency response and so it was beneficial for both teams to come together to meet with their colleagues in a training environment.

As part of the exercise, John Shinners, Senior Assistant Fire Officer, gave a classroom presentation on all safety considerations, fires, management and extinguishers, followed by a question and answers session on the lifeboat’s emergency procedures and standard operation procedures.

Outside, on the base training area, Déaran O’Gorman, Sub-Station Officer and firefighter Robert Fogarty gave a talk and a practical demonstration.

Billy George, Lough Derg RNLI Safety Officer said: ‘We are very grateful to John, Déaran and Robert for giving us so much of their time and to Joe O’Donoghue, Lough Derg RNLI crew member, who co-ordinated and liaised with the fire crew to arrange this combined training exercise.’

Ends

Photograph by Eleanor Hooker

LtoR Robert Fogarty, Firefighter, John Shinners, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Ciara Lynch, RNLI Crew, Rob White, Lough Derg RNLI Safety Officer, James Corbillis, RNLI Crew/Trainee Navigator, Owen Cavanagh, RNLI Helm, Christine O'Malley, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Aoife Kennedy, Lough Derg RNLI Station Administrator & Launching Authority, Doireann Kennedy, RNLI Crew/ Trainee Navigator, Deirdre Gleeson, RNLI Crew, Joe O'Donoghue, RNLI Crew, Déaran O’Gorman, Sub-Station Officer, Tom Hayes, Crew/ Trainee Navigator, Líadha Hayes, Prospective crew, Billy George, Lough Derg RNLI Safety Officer, Peter Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Medical Advisor
LtoR Déaran O’Gorman, Sub-Station Officer, Robert Fogarty, Firefighter, John Shinners, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer

Notes to editors

Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station has been operating since 2004. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/lough-derg-lifeboat-station
A photo of Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat can be viewed at: https://www.facebook.com/RNLILoughDerg/

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI volunteer helm and Lifeboat Press Officer on 0877535207 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media
resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the
RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.

Two firefighters in their kit and their fire chief in formal uniform preparing to talk to RNLI volunteers ahead of a practical demonstration outside — LtoR Déaran O’Gorman, Sub-Station Officer, Robert Fogarty, Firefighter, John Shinners, Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service

Lough Derg RNLI Volunteers with Firefighters at Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service all gathered outside by a fire truck for a debrief following combined exercise — Lough Derg RNLI Volunteers with Firefighters at Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

Lough Derg RNLI in combined exercise with Tipperary Fire & Rescue Service

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