200 YEARS STRONG

The Irish Coast Guard has provided an essential frontline service for two centuries

The Irish Coast Guard celebrated its 200th birthday last September, with a special commemorative event taking place at Greenore Coast Guard Station in Co Louth to mark the occasion.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State with speci c responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard Hildegarde Naughton were in attendance to celebrate two centuries of the lifesaving service, with plans in place to award special Commemorative Proof of Service Wreck Tokens to 950 volunteers nationwide in recognition of their valued service. is Token is based on original Proof of Service wreck tokens that were issued to all Coast Guard stations since 1822. When the Coast Guard members, or members of the public, attended to a rescue, the O cer in Charge would give all attendees a token, which they would then hand back to the Inspector on his next visit to the station as proof of his or her attendance at a rescue. ey would then be paid the appropriate amount for their service.

Two types of token were cast over the 200 years, with both having a clipper ship on one side, but the British version from 1822 to 1922 featuring a Crown on the other side, and the Irish version from 1922 onwards displaying a harp.

As very few of these original tokens have survived, the awarding of new tokens to each of the Coast Guard’s

950 sta and volunteers is a tting recognition of the rich, ongoing history of this maritime service.

Origins

e origins of the Coast Guard actually go as far back as 1809 when the Water Guard, also known as the Preventative Boat Service, was formed. is organisation was the sea-based arm of revenue enforcement who patrolled the shore from Watch Houses around the coast. It was under Royal Navy control from 1816 to 1822, when it and riding o cers were amalgamated under the control of the Board of Customs.

It was then on 15 January 1822 that the Coast Guard was established by the Board of Customs, with the Waterguard nally absorbed into the Customs and Excise department in 1909.

In 1856, control of the Coast Guard passed o cially to the Navy, but in 1921 a er the War of Independence, the duties formerly performed by Her Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG) were taken over by the Irish Free State, and the Coast Lifesaving Service (CLSS) was established in 1923.

Another two years later, the UK Coastguard Act was passed, formally de ning its powers and responsibilities. An interesting sidenote is that this was the rst time the service had used the single word version ‘Coastguard’.

Name

e CLSS was later renamed the Coast and Cli Rescue Service, but in 1991 it was once again renamed as the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES). In 2000, it once again changed its name, becoming the Irish Coast Guard, with the original two-word ‘Coast Guard’ description used as these words had not been use before for any maritime rescue organisation in Ireland and thus had not been a ected by the British usage of the single word term.

Modern Times

As well as the three Rescue Coordination Centres at Malin Head, Valentia Island and MRCC Dublin, there are now 44 Coast Guard units operating around Ireland, and today’s modern technology is a far cry from the equipment used in the rst century and a half of service, when volunteers had to rely on horse-drawn carriages to carry equipment, and climbed cli s using ladders. What hasn’t changed throughout the 200 years of the Coast Guard service is the dedication and commitment of the sta and volunteers who keep us safe.

Celebration

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary, Minister Ryan said: “ e Irish Coast Guard has always been, and remains, a critical part of Ireland’s emergency response system. Last year, the Coast Guard reported a 12% increase in the overall number of incidents coordinated during 2021. Hardly a day goes by without hearing of the extraordinary work carried out bravely and sel essly by its sta and volunteers.

“Whether it’s the rescue of someone from the sea, a cli or mountain rescue, the provision of maritime safety broadcasts, ship casualty operations or the investigation of pollution reports, they provide a 24/7 service for, and on behalf of, the Irish people.

“I am delighted to mark this 200year celebration and to re ect on its rich history by recognising the tireless work of Irish Coast Guard sta and volunteers – both those currently in duty and those who have served before them, and their families right across the country.”

Minister Naughton was also keen to recognise the contribution of the Coast Guard sta and volunteers, saying: “ e Irish Coast Guard is one of the State’s Principal Emergency Services and their work is both challenging and varied. I would like to acknowledge the commitment of sta and volunteers for providing this crucial service and particularly for maintaining service delivery throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“ e dedication and commitment towards protecting people along our coastline and inland waters is palpable to say the least. I continue to hear stories of volunteers leaving their families at home at the dead of night, or on Christmas Day, to assist a person in di culty; a fact that demonstrates the personal sacri ce that is made by our volunteers 365 days of the year. Without our volunteers, we simply would not have this lifesaving service.”