Red Bay Lifeboat Station

Red Bay Lifeboat Station is located at Coast Road, Cushendall, County Antrim, a village at the mouth of the River Dall, in the Glens of Antrim, approximately 20 miles (32km) north east of Ballymena, on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland.

A lifeboat was first stationed at Cushendall in 1972, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The station currently operates the All-weather Trent-class lifeboat, 14-32 Corinne Whiteley (ON 1253), on station since 2019, and the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Geoffrey Charles (B-843), on station since 2010.

History

Even if no lifeboats were involved, the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), founded in 1824 by Sir William Hillary, Bt., later to become the RNLI, made awards for outstanding sea rescues. Three Silver Medals were awarded for rescues off the Antrim coast, in 1840, 1851 and 1857.

However, it was only in 1972 that a lifeboat would be placed at Red Bay. In the 1950s and 60s, there was a boom in the amount of leisure boating activities. The RNLI had responded to this, by introducing the small fast inflatable D-class Inshore Rescue boats.

The area around the north-east coast of Northern Ireland was no exception, and 1962 would see the formation of the Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club. One or two close calls of people needing to be rescued, highlighted the need for a lifeboat. In 1972, the nearest lifeboat was 22mi (35km) away at Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula in Scotland, with the nearest Irish lifeboats at Donaghadee and Portrush at least 32mi (51km) away. The Red Bay lifeboat committee was formed, to provide a lifeboat for the Glens of Antrim area.

In May 1972, the RNLI placed a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat (D-196) at Cushendall. At first the boat was kept in a small shed, until a boathouse and slipway were provided with the help of Moyle District Council. After a period of training for the 17 volunteers, during which the lifeboat was called out twice, at a ceremony at Meetson's Slipway, Cushendall on 26 August 1972, the boat was formally handed to the local committee, and the Red Bay lifeboat station declared operational. The first volunteers included no less than 7 members of the McCollam family, and Joan Murphy, one of the first women lifeboat crew members in the RNLI.

The lifeboat would soon prove its worth, the first effective call being just 19 days after the official handover. On 14 September 1972, the lifeboat towed home a small motor boat with 4 people aboard, which had suffered engine failure 4mi (6.4km) offshore. A month later, a boat and two people were saved after their vessel capsized. Most D-class lifeboats having a service life of around 10 years, D-192 would serve at Red Bay for an extraordinary 15 years, saving the lives of 47 people in that time.

In 1985, trials began of a larger D-class lifeboat, the Zodiac Grand Raid IV, which was fitted with twin 40-hp engines, giving a top speed of 26knots(30mph). These would soon be re-designated as a C-class lifeboat. In 1987, D-196 was withdrawn, and replaced with Thomas Corbett (C-519). A C-class (Zodiac Grand Raid IV) would serve Red Bay for the next 8 years.

By the mid-1990s, the few C-class lifeboats on station were phased out, in preference to the twin engine Atlantic-class Rigid inflatable boat. Red Bay would receive an older Atlantic 21-class for training in 1996. At the same time, a new boathouse large enough to accommodate the Atlantic-class boats, along with the specially designed Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor, and Drive Off - Drive On (DO-DO) launch carriage. Red Bay's new Atlantic 75 lifeboat arrived on station on 3 September 1996. At a ceremony on 19 October 1996, the boathouse was officially opened, and the boat was named Dorothy May (B-728), having been funded from the legacy of Miss Dorothy May Raine and Mr David Stanley Raine.

One of the more unusual items to be found at Red Bay lifeboat station is a large Buoy once operated by the Commissioner of Irish Lights. Dating from 1969, Conical Buoy No 131 spent the next thirty years moored in Clew Bay, County Mayo, warning mariners of the shingle bar at Dorinish More. Left to rot near Larne after it was replaced, it was 'acquired' by the crew at Red Bay, and towed up to the station by lifeboat. Blast cleaned, repaired, painted, with a working light and a slot cut in the side, it is probably the largest RNLI donation box.

Red Bay's Atlantic-class lifeboat would be called out 20 times in 2015, and 11 of these times were in the dark. Over 160 hours had been spent out at sea. Following a coastal review, it was decided to place an All-weather Trent-class lifeboat at Red Bay for a 2-year evaluation period, whilst retaining the Inshore boat.

Three years later, the allocation of a Trent-class lifeboat to Red Bay was made permanent, and in 2019, 14-32 Corinne Whiteley (ON 1253) from the relief fleet was made Red Bay's permanent All-weather lifeboat.

In 2024, Red Bay Coxswain Patrick 'Paddy' McLaughlin was awarded the MBE for his 43 years service to the RNLI.

Station honours

The following are awards made at Red Bay (Antrim).

RNIPLS Silver Medal

Lt. William Lyons, RN, H.M. Coastguard – 1840 (Second-Service award)

Lt. Arthur Kennedy, RN, H.M. Coastguard – 1851

RNLI Silver Medal

John Aitken, Commissioned Boatman, H.M. Coastguard – 1857

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

Thomas McLaughlin, Helm – 2003

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

D. McCollam, Deputy Launching Authority – 1991 Tom McLaughlin, crew member – 1991 Patrick McLaughlin, crew member – 1991 Donald McAlister, crew member – 1991 Liam McCollam, crew member – 1991 Joe Ferris, crew member – 1991 Peter McLaughlin, crew member – 1991 Andrew McAlister, crew member – 1991 Niall McCambridge, crew member – 1991 Patrick McCambridge, crew member – 1991 James Farrell, crew member – 1991 Joe Burns, crew member – 1991

Lifesaving Foundation 'Ireland Medal', awarded each year to an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to saving lives from drowning.

Patrick McLaughlin, Coxswain, and RNLI Trustee – 2024

Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Neil Ross Workman, Honorary Secretary – 1998NYH

Patrick McLaughlin, Coxswain, and RNLI Trustee – 2025 NYH