The annual RNLI Christmas Eve ceremony in Dun Laoghaire has been cancelled for 2020.
Each year, the event is held to pay tribute to 15 lifeboat volunteers that lost their lives on 24 December 1895 when their boat was wrecked at sea. It also commemorates those who have lost their lives throughout the year.
The lifeboat capsized in gale force winds while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme that had run aground off Blackrock in county Dublin. The whole crew, 15 in all, drowned.
The longstanding tradition normally takes place at East Pier in Dun Laoghaire, but this year two wreaths will be placed by the lifeboat crew at sea, and the service will be available online through Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s Facebook page later on Christmas Eve.
The tribute will feature musician William Byrne performing ‘The Ballad of the Palme’ and Fergal Keane of RTE, reading a newspaper account of the disaster. An ecumenical blessing will be given by Reverends Ása Björk Ólafsdóttir and Fr. Paul Tyrell before a lament is played by piper Paul McNally.
Stephen Wynne, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: "We know a lot of people like to traditionally join us on Christmas Eve to commemorate this anniversary which allows us to pay tribute to those that sadly died on that day in 1895, and to remember all who have died at sea or on inland waters this year.
"However, it is not an ordinary year and we want everyone to be safe. We hope that people will visit our Facebook page shortly after the lifeboat crew lay the wreaths at sea as a beautiful tribute has been prepared."
