Dún Laoghaire RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew gathered at the end of East Pier today to lay wreaths and remember 15 colleagues who lost their lives at sea on this day 130 years ago.
The ceremony is also held to remember all those who lost their lives around coasts, in rivers, in inland waters and abroad.
The annual ceremony has become a Christmas Eve tradition for the Dublin lifeboat station and took place under the lighthouse.
An account of the disaster, published at the time of the tragedy, was read by former broadcaster Joe Duffy, while piper Ruairí Somers played a lament from the Lighthouse Battery.
There was also an ecumenical blessing, which recalled the names of the of the 1895 crew, and remembered those who lost their lives at sea. This was followed by a minute’s silence.
A minute’s silence was held at the ceremony at East Pier
The Civil Service No.1 Dún Laoghaire lifeboat was wrecked while assisting the SS Palme of Finland.
The entire crew were drowned. The lifeboat capsized 600 yards from the distressed vessel and although efforts were made to send help to the lifeboat and to the Palme, nothing could be done.
The second Dún Laoghaire lifeboat, Hannah Pickard, also launched but it too capsized under sail.
However, all crew returned safely. The captain, his wife, child and 17 crew were eventually rescued on the 26 December.
“This annual ceremony has become very special for our lifeboat station,” said Eamon O’Leary, Dún Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager.
“The loss of 15 lifeboat volunteers devastated the local community at the time but the lifeboat service kept going. While honouring those brave volunteers, we also remember those who have lost their lives through drowning.
“Lifeboat crew, along with their colleagues in other emergency services will be on call over Christmas, as they are every day of the year,” he added.