Awareness
Limerick Marine Search and Rescue Service celebrate 30 years of service for the people of Limerick
Limerick Marine Search and Rescue Black Tie Ball – Pictured at the Limerick Marine Search and Rescue building Jimmy Connors, co-founder, Limerick Marine Search and Rescue, Tony Cusack co-founder, Limerick Marine Search and Rescue, Mark O’Brien, volunteer, Joe Morgan, Limerick Marine Search and Rescue Chairperson 2016 and Robert Quirke, volunteer. Picture by Cian Reinhardt/ilovelimerick.
Limerick Marine Search and Rescue Service (LMSR) are celebrating their 30th year in service since their establishment in 1986.
To celebrate the occasion Joe Morgan, Chairman of Limerick Marine Search and Rescue, has organised a Black Tie Ball fundraiser at the Limerick Strand Hotel on Friday, October 21. Guests will be welcomed with a drinks reception, a delicious 3-course meal, a live auction and some amazing entertainment on the night.
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Limerick Marine Search and Rescue was established in 1986 by Jimmy Connors and Tony Cusack who were both sports divers at the time. They were asked to help search for a young boy who had lost his life in the waters of Parteen. The two men decided afterwards that there was a necessity for a Marine, Search and Rescue unit in Limerick. Following a meeting on December 6, 1986, in Ger Fahey’s bar on the Dock Road (now Dolans), Limerick Marine Search and Rescue was established.
Pictured at the Limerick Marine Search and Rescue building are Joe Morgan, Limerick Marine Search and Rescue Chairperson 2016, Jimmy Connors, co-founder Limerick Marine Search and Rescue and Holly Kenny, ilovelimerick correspondent. Picture by Cian Reinhardt/ilovelimerick.
The organisation has grown from that initial meeting to a full blown headquarters at Atlas Avenue on the Dock Road housing state of the art equipment to help keep the people of Limerick safe in unpredictable waters. It also holds pontoons along the waters of Limerick equipped with boats which were established with the help of donations. As a result from these, Limerick Marine Search and Rescue are incredibly responsive in an emergency call due to their quick accessibility to the water.
Jimmy adds, “30 years on and we’re stronger than ever. We feel so proud that the people of Limerick helped to create it. We are so grateful to JP McManus and to the other people who have given us big donations to keep us afloat, but also to the people of Limerick for keeping our dream alive. To see it grow from here, for it to go further, would be incredible.”
LMSR has become an increasingly respected organisation across Limerick over the last 30 years. All the 26 volunteers dedicate their time to aid their community. They also dedicate time to hold Summer Camps to help teach adults and children about water safety in a positive environment.
“Limerick Marine Search and Rescue is more than just the members. It wouldn’t exist without the people who’ve had pub quizzes, fundraisers and run marathons for us,” Joe says. “It’s a very community and volunteer based service. This fundraising ball is so vitally important to the future of our service and we are asking the people of Limerick to come out and support their own. Let’s keep our city safe for one another and best of all let’s do it in style!
The tickets for the Black Tie Ball are €100 and are available at the Limerick Strand Hotel or from any of the LMSR volunteers.
For further info please visit www.facebook.com/LimerickMarineSearchRescue.
For more stories about Limerick Marine Search and Rescue from I Love Limerick click here.
