Eugene waves farewell to lifeboat

By Dan Walsh

RNLI volunteer lifeboat coxswain Eugene Kehoe has retired from his station at Kilmore Quay after nearly 50 years’ service.

During National Volunteer Week in Ireland, the RNLI acknowledged Eugene for his dedicated service and noted their dependency on volunteers for over 200 years.

Kilmore Quay RNLI celebrated the retirement of Eugene Keogh who has been a volunteer at the Wexford station for over 48 years with over 20 years as coxswain.

Eugene did his last exercise on Saturday, which was also his birthday. He began volunteering with the RNLI when he was just 18 years old alongside his grandfather, father and uncles and he retired surrounded by his family and friends.

Commenting about his time with the RNLI, he said: ‘As soon as I was old enough to help, I was in it. From a young age, we would help on shore and as soon as I turned 18, I was on the lifeboat.’ When asked if he had any advice for our volunteers, he added ‘Keep on doing it. You will never be sorry for doing it.’

During his time as coxswain, Eugene was presented with a Bronze Medal for Gallantry for his role in a rescue in 2020, where Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East and Rosslare Harbour crews saved nine lives and prevented a large cargo vessel from hitting rocks at Hook Head.