Greenore Lifeboat Station

Greenore Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, located at Shore road in the village and deep-water port of Greenore, on the south side of Carlingford Lough, in County Louth, Ireland.

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the RNLI in 1894.

After only 10 calls in 26 years, and none for the last nine years, the Greenore Lifeboat Station was closed in 1920.

History
Greenore Lifeboat Station, located on the south side of Carlingford Lough, opened in 1894, when the lifeboat Sir Arthur Blackwood (ON 373), a 37-foot Self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was placed here by the RNLI. The boat, costing £493, was funded by donations from Post Office staff, in memory of the late Sir Stevenson Arthur Blackwood KCB, Secretary-General of the GPO.

The first service for the lifeboat was on 2 March 1896, when she was launched to the steamship Rosstrevor, of the London and North Western Railway Company. Just leaving Greenore, she was aground on a rock. 17 women and children were taken off by the lifeboat, and landed at Greenore. The boat was refloat a few days later and repaired.



The greatest shipping disaster to befall the area, was on 3 November 1915. In gale-force conditions, the passenger ferry SS Connemara, bound for Holyhead from Greenore, collided with the SS Retriever of the Clanrye Steamship company of Newry, at the entrance to Carlingford Lough. Both vessels sank within minutes. There was only one survivor, 97 perished. There is no record that the lifeboat was ever called.

In 1911, the Greenore Lifeboat would be called for the last time. 4 people were rescued from the yacht Volga, drifting and dragging her anchor in Carlingford Lough.

With no calls in 9 years, Greenore Lifeboat Station was closed in 1920. The lifeboat had been launched 10 times, and saved 31 lives. Lifeboat Sir Arthur Blackwood (ON 373) would serve on the RNLI Relief fleet for another 6 years.