The official opening of Enniskillen RNLI’s new station was delayed this afternoon (Saturday, July 1) as the volunteer crew responded to a call out an hour before the naming ceremony for the new lifeboat was due to get underway.

 

Just as crew and invited guests were beginning to gather for the event, the volunteers’ pagers sounded at 1.05pm. Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat to go to the aid of two people on a 23ft cruiser which had broken down and was drifting towards rocks north of Castle Archdale. A jet ski with one onboard which was in the area at the time went to the aid of the boat’s crew but in rendering assistance had got tangled in the lines of the cruiser.

 

The John and Jean Lewis helmed by Wayne Robinson and with crew members Stephen Ingram, Alan Shaw and Andrew Wilson onboard, launched immediately and made its way to the scene. Weather conditions at the time were blowing a strong westerly force 6-7 breeze and the crew encountered waves up to 10ft on route through the Broad Lough.

 

Arriving on scene, the crew observed that all were safe and well. The boat’s crew had been travelling to Enniskillen from Kesh when they encountered mechanical difficulties. The jet skier had managed to untangle the jet ski from the cruiser and was holding the boat head to wind out of danger of the rocks.

A lifeboat crew member went onboard the cruiser to assess the situation and a decision was made to establish a towline and bring the cruiser to the nearest safe port at Muckross jetty while the jet skier helping continued on their way.

 

Arriving back to loud applause, the lifeboat crew were greeted by all assembled and the naming ceremony and service of dedication got underway.

 

The honour of officially opening the lifeboat station went to Johnny Weir, nephew of Ann Johnston. Mrs. Johnston, the daughter of the late Alfred Russell Wallace Weir from Bangor in County Down, along with her late husband John made a generous contribution towards the cost of the new building in memory of her father.

The privilege of naming the lifeboat meanwhile, went to Sam McCreery, President of Enniskillen RNLI.

 

During today’s naming ceremony, Mr. Weir unveiled a plaque to officially open the lifeboat station before Monsignor Peter O’Reilly and The Very Reverend Kenneth Hall, led the blessing and dedication of the new building.