Thank You to the Heritage Council
The Dunleary Lifeboat Project is delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded funding through the Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme.
This continued support is invaluable in helping us preserve one of Ireland’s most significant pieces of maritime heritage and ensuring that the historic Dunleary Lifeboat can be enjoyed by future generations.
The funding awarded this year will enable us to undertake another major phase of the restoration. Work will focus on making both the forward and aft cabins completely watertight. This will include repairs and sealing of the forward and aft decks, replacing both the port and starboard gunwales, and rebuilding the engine casing.
Over the past number of years, our volunteers have replaced most of the vessel’s structural ribs. This important work now allows the new gunwales to be installed, restoring much of the boat’s original strength and profile.
The new deck, which has already significantly strengthened the vessel, will incorporate a reconstructed engine casing built to the original design using the historic boatbuilder’s plans that have guided the restoration from the beginning.
Reinstating the gunwales together with the forward and aft bulkheads will further strengthen the Dunleary and bring us another significant step closer to our long-term goal of relocating her to a more accessible public display within Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
Projects like this simply would not be possible without the support of organisations that recognise the importance of preserving our shared heritage.
On behalf of everyone involved with the Dunleary Lifeboat Project, we extend our sincere thanks to the Heritage Council for their continued confidence in our work and their commitment to protecting Ireland’s rich maritime heritage.