First Origins 1821/1822

Skerries Coast Guard can trace its origins back to 1821/1822 with the formation of the Coastguard Service in Ireland. The Coastguard was formed by the amalgamation of three existing services set up primarily to prevent smuggling:

1. The Revenue Cruisers
2. The Riding Officers
3. The Preventative Water Guard

The initial establishment of Coastguard stations in Ireland was overseen by James Dumbrain, Comptroller General of the Irish Preventative Water Guard. Skerries Coastguard was one of only five stations initially established in the Dublin area in 1821. The nearest station to the South was located at Rush, (overlooking the harbour) and to the North at Nannywater (near Laytown).

In January 1822 an additional Coastguard station was added at Portrane, Co Dublin. Later in 1822, two additional Coastguard stations were established in the area; one at Balbriggan, 8 miles North of Skerries and one on Lambay Island, off the coast of Rush. Later in the 1800s Coastguard stations would also be established at Loughshinny and Rogerstown harbour, Rush.

The original Skerries Coastguard station was sited at Red Island, near to where the Sea Memorial Pole is now located.

The Skerries station was manned with a crew of 12, comprised of the following:

• 1 Chief Officer
• 1 Chief Boatman
• 2 Commissioned Boatman
• 8 Boatman

Lieut. William Smith is listed as the first Chief Officer, appointed 19th December 1820. The extract from the book of establishment [above right] lists the names of the initial crew and date of appointment. When a crewman left the station, their name was loosely crossed out on the establishment book – hence the scribbles.

In 1873: Wreck of the Sarah Ann, a Runcorn Scooner, on rocks off the Balbriggan coast. Sadly a number of the rescuers lost their lives, including Albert Fanning a Boatman member of Skerries Coastguard. Albert had helped to crew the Skerries lifeboat during the rescue. Five local volunteers with the Skerries lifeboat also lost their lives in the rescue.

The only four survivors of the lifeboat crew were Coastguard boatmen, each of these were later awarded Tayleur Fund medals for their brave actions on that fateful night. Three were boatmen with Skerries Coastguard: Robert Ellison, Thomas Woodley and William Scantlebury. The fourth recipient was Lot Syme, boatman with Balbriggan Coastguard. Later that same year, Lot Syme and Thomas Woodley both received promotions in the Coastguard service;

“MERITED PROMOTION

Mr Lot Syme, one of the four coastguards saved of the crew of the Skerries Lifeboat, whose name has been so prominently mentioned in connection with the disastrous event, on the night of the wreck of the Sarah of Runcorn, has just been promoted to the rank of chief-boatman-in-charge to the Castletown [coast guard] station, Co Cork. Mr Thmoas Woodley, of Skerries, one of the coxswains in charge of the lifeboat, and who also fortunately escaped being drowned on that melancholy occasion, has succeeded Mr Syme in Balbriggan. Mr Syme is a native of Brinny near Bandon.”

——- Irish Times, Monday 26th May 1873

In 1878: Thomas Elmore is appointed Chief Officer of the Coastguard station at Skerries.

1907 Royal Humane Society; Testimonial to William Gillard, Coastguard boatsman, Skerries Co Dublin, for his rescue of a youth named McGarry who fell from Skerries pier on 14th June, Gillard has previously received recognition for saving life. (Irish Times 20th July 1907).

Early 1900’s photos of Skerries Lifeboat launch

The photos below were supplied by the No. 1 man John Kelly’s family and are thought to depict the first launch of a new lifeboat at Skerries. The exact date is unknown, but believed to be the early part of the 1900’s (certainly pre 1930). Click on each photo thumbnail to view the full size photo.

1921/22 – War of Independence & Irish Free State
In the war of independence many of the Coastguard stations were burned to the ground by Irish Volunteers, having being declared legitimate targets by the Irish Republican Army. This followed a similar fate of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks in the area at the time. The Skerries Coastguard station was recorded as being destroyed in a fire on Saturday 18th June 1921, along with other nearby stations in Loughshinny, Rush and Rogerstown.

“BURNED BY ARMED MEN
FOUR COASTGUARD STATIONS DESTROYED
At two o’clock on Saturday morning the Coastguard Stations at Skerries, Loughshinney, Rush, and Rogerstown, all in County Dublin, were burned to the ground by unknown men. The same procedure appears to have been adopted by the raiders in all cases.

Marching silently up to the different stations, each of which was occupied by a few men only, the raiders ordered the coastguards and their families outside, and then, sprinkling petrol over the house, set them on fire. At one station, ten bicycles were carried away. In some cases very little property was saved by the coastguards.”

—– Irish Times, Monday 20th June 1921

1923 – A new lifesaving era begins

In 1923, with the formation of the Irish Free State, the Coast Lifesaving Service (CLSS)
was established. The formal date of re-establishment of the Skerries station was 4th July 1923.  Skerries was assigned station number 3 of the Eastern District. Two other CLSS stations were sited to the North: at Greenore and Clogher Head, Co Louth. To the South the nearest station was at Dun Laoghaire. 

The Coast
Lifesaving Service was placed under the control of the Board of Trade and its role restricted to the following duties:

• lifesaving,
• salvage from wreck,
• administration of the foreshore.

On 4th July 1923 the crew list of Skerries Coast Life-Saving Service comprised of 14 local men:
John Kelly No.1 Man, Postman of Hoar Rock (Born 1883)
Francis Boylan No.2 Man, Farmer of The Square (Born 1889)
Joseph Regan, Labourer of Sherlock Terrace (Born 1899)
William Shiels, Sailor of The Square (Born 1863)
James Seaver, Labourer of Strand Street (Born 1890)
James Boylan, Gardener of Quay Street (Born 1874)
Robert Duff, Farmer of Strand Street (Born 1892)
John Joseph Seaver, Labourer of Strand Street (Born 1896)
Thomas Fanning, Labourer of Convent Avenue (Born 1896)
Patrick Gavin, Labourer of Strand Street (Born 1873)
Thomas McDermott, Carter of Cross Street (Born 1863)
William Caddle, Fisherman of The Square (Born 1872)
Michael Daly, Fisherman of Quay Street (Born 1862)
Christopher Shiels, Labourer of Sherlock Terrace (Born 1903)

The local contractor for Horses is listed as Mr John Seaver, whereby horses would be used to draw the Rocket Life Saving Apparatus Cart to the scene of a shipwreck. Interestingly, Mr John Kelly was also listed as the No.1 man in February 1915. Much of the 1923 crew would have previously served with the Coast Guard at Skerries prior to the CLSS establishment.

Methods of tasking the crew
The method of calling the Life Saving Company (team) together for the purpose of affording assistance to vessels in distress consisted of the No.1 Man firing one Maroon rocket signal. This emitted a very loud signal that would have reverberated across the town. This signal also served the purpose of indicating to a vessel in distress or to any Lighthouse or Lightvessel signalling for assistance that the distress message is received and is being attended to.

Having deployed the Maroon signal, the actions of the No.1 Man were prescribed as follows:

1. If he is of the opinion that the Life Saving Apparatus can be successfully employed, he will at once make arrangements for the transport of the Company and all necessary apparatus and proceed to the scene of the wreck as quickly as possible.
2. If it appears to be a case for the Life Boat, he will communicate at once with the nearest coxswain either by telephone or messenger. The Coast Life Saving Company will render any assistance that may be required to launch the Life Boat, and will stand by in any case their services may be required either with the Life Saving Apparatus or otherwise.

On 19th September 1934 James Mansfiled (a Painter of “Altona” 86 Strand Street, Skerries) joins the Skerries Coast Guard team. James would later become the No. 1 Man (Chief Officer) during much of the late 1930s and 1940s, assisted by No.2 Man Christopher Shiels.

In 1937, Walter Howlett (a Labourer of The Cross, Skerries) joins the Skerries team. Walter would become the No.1 Man for much of the 1950s and 1960s.

The Unit was equipped with a horse drawn cart. This was used to carry the team and the Life Saving Appartus equipment to the scene of an incident. The cart could also be drawn short distances by hand if required. The original Skerries Coast Guard rocket cart is currently on loan to Fingal County Council and is on public display at Newbridge House & Farm, Donabate, Co Dublin.

The Life Saving Apparatus kit comprised a defined list of equipment. The image below is a copy of “list of stores to be kept in Cart” notice issued by the Board of Trade, November 1877. This notice listed all the items carried in the Cart and was to be affixed to the outside of the Tail Board. This served as a useful reference list for the team. The image below is taken from the list affixed to the former Skerries Coast Guard Cart. Some of the items carried included: Signal flags, heaving canes, spades, port fires and tally boards.

In operating the Rocket Apparatus, each man was assigned a numbered armband. Each number signified a particular role to be carried out in the rescue drill. In the crew picture below from a training exercise at Red Island, Skerries 1958, each man can be seen wearing their numbered armband, usually on the left arm. The rocket apparatus kit was stored in several heavy wooden crates with rope handles, one of which can be seen at the front of the photo. The front of the rocket appartus cart is also visible in the background of the photo below.

Like many other CCLS teams around the coast, the Skerries crew carried out exercise drills on the use of the Rocket Apparatus kit every one to two months. These drills were often carried out nearby at Red Island and overseen by the CCLS District Officer from Dublin. Informal competitions would be held among the crew at each drill on key skills; throwing the heaving cane, semaphore, Morse code, with small cash prizes awarded by the District Officer for the winners of each skill.

The heaving cane consisted of a short, sturdy bamboo cane with a heavy lead weight bound at the top. A long and very fine, light rope (line) was attached to the cane’s other end and it was used to throw the line out to a vessel in distress close to shore (in instances where the rocket was not suitable/too powerful to use). The crew member would wade out into the waves to near chest height and throw the heaving cane to the vessel from an overhead throw. The receiving ship could then use this light line to “heave” aboard the heavier rope of the Breeches Buoy for her crew to be rescued ashore. Interestingly, the typical prize winning training drill throw of the heaving cane in the 1930’s stood at an impressive 77 yards.

The current Skerries Coast Guard station at Red Island was constructed in the 1960’s and remains in operational use to this day. A local builder from Red Island, Skerries won the public tender to build the station, constructed from concrete blocks and pre-cast concrete sections. Additional modernization of the building has continued to the present day but the original structure is largely unchanged.

Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES)

1991 change of service name to Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES). As part of a nationwide service upgrade, the first motor vehicle is assigned to the Skerries station. The Ford Transit van could carry 3 crew and was used to transport the full rescue kit to the scene of an incident and significantly reduced incident response times.

Irish Coast Guard (IRCG)

2001 change of service name to the Irish Coast Guard (Garda Costa na hEireann) which is still in use today. This is often abbreviated as “IRCG”. The current service logo features an intertwined anchor and harp. Note, the new spelling of Coast Guard as two separate words.

Further enhancements to the Skerries station continued with the provision of the first 4WD (4 wheel drive) emergency vehicle in 2005 (a Toyota Hilux crewcab). A second 4WD vehicle arrived on station in 2015 followed by an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Polaris Ranger in 2018.

In June 2006 Vanessa Gaffney is appointed as Deputy Area Officer (later renamed Deputy Officer in Charge) having originally joined the Skerries Coast Guard team in August 2004.

May 2007 Officer in Charge Thomas (Ben) Gaughran retires from the Coast Guard with over 20 year service on reaching the (then) mandatory retirement age of 65 years. The serving Deputy Officer in Charge Vanessa Gaffney is appointed Officer in Charge. John Ryan is appointed as Deputy Officer in Charge. Both roles are appointed on a seven year term.

In 2014, both Vanessa Gaffney OIC and John Ryan DOIC are reappointed in their respective roles for a further seven year term.

In 2016 the Irish Coast Guard presents its serving rescue volunteers with a commemorative medal to mark the occasion of the 100th year anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Both the Skerries Coast Guard OIC Vanessa Gaffney and DOIC John Ryan march with a contingent of Coast Guards from all over Ireland in the National Commemorative Parade in Dublin.

In October 2016 the Skerries team were awarded a Marine Ministerial Letter of Appreciation for Meritorious Service for their contribution to a challenging rescue of a cliff faller at Portrane in June 2015. The presentation was made to the team at a ceremony at Farmleigh House.

In 2021 a significant milestone in the history of Skerries Coast Guard is reached with the deployment of Drone searching capability. Skerries Coast Guard is one of the first Coast Guard teams on the east coast to launch drone search capability. Initially two team members were trained to IAA Drone Pilot status with a further two following shortly after. Several drones will be tested by the team over the coming months, resulting in enhanced airborne search capability with infra red (FLIR) and searchlight ability.

November 2021 DOIC John Ryan retires having completed his second term as DOIC. Vanessa Gaffney is reappointed as OIC, joined by Gary Creighton as DOIC. Gary originally joined the Coast Guard in 2007.

In 2022 the Irish Coast Guard celebrated a historic milestone: the 100th year anniversary of the establishment of the Irish Coast Guard (or the Coast Cliff Lifesaving Service as it was originally known) and the 200th year anniversary of the first establishment of a Coast Guard service in Ireland. This was marked by the presentation to every serving Coast Guard member in 2022 with a framed commemorative set of Coast Guard Wreck Tokens.

In September 2024, Officer in Charge Vanessa Gaffney retires having reached the milestone of 20 years service with the Irish Coast Guard, 18 of which were served in an Officer role with the Skerries team. Vanessa was presented with her 20 year Meritorious Service medal by James Larkin, Coastal Unit Sector Manager, Irish Coast Guard. On Vanessa’s retirement, DOIC Gary Creighton was appointed as Acting Officer in Charge of the Skerries Coast Guard team.