Helvick Head History

1832 A Silver Medal was awarded to Lieut Charles Autridge RN for rescuing nine people from the brigantine Cyclops that had run aground at Doonbeg on 21 December 1831.

1852 During a service to the brigantine Harry King a shore boat capsized and eight of her nine crew drowned.

1859 The RNLI established a lifeboat station and a boathouse was built on the north side of Dungarvan Bay. This completed a chain of seven stations on the south coast of Ireland; two years before this there were no stations on this stretch of coast.

1861 Silver Medals were awarded to Robert Barron and Captain Augustin Dower for rescuing two crew from the wrecked brigantine Susan.

1863 The boathouse was rebuilt in Ballinacourty.

1896 Crew Member Michael Hogan died after a lifeboat service due to exposure.

1897 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain John Veale for rescuing seven crew from the wrecked ship Moresby. Twenty others died.

1899 A new boathouse and slipway were built at Crowe Point on the south side of Dungarvan Bay.

1930 The station was moved to Helvick Head harbour. The station’s first motor lifeboat arrived at the station and was kept on moorings in the harbour.

1959 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1969 The all weather lifeboat was withdrawn and the station closed on 25 March.

1997 The station was re-established as an inshore lifeboat station; a B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat was placed on service on 26 April.

1998 A new ILB boathouse was built.

1999 A new Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B-760 Alice and Charles, was placed on service on 14 December. This lifeboat was funded from the generous bequest of Charles William Armstrong.

Station honours

At Helvick Head lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1
Silver Medal 3