History made in Louth with Drogheda’s first all-female rescue crew
Drogheda’s first all-female search and rescue boat crew served at the Drogheda Coast Guard station in County Louth.
The Irish Coast Guard’s first ever all female search and rescue crew in Drogheda was formed by Sue McKinney, Jean O’Reilly, and Charlotte McDade.
The Irish Coast Guard announced the achievement on Facebook.
They said: “Congratulations to Sue McKinney, Charlotte McDaid and Jean O'Reilly, who recently formed Drogheda Coast Guard's first fully operational all-female Search and Rescue boat crew, the first of its kind on the East Coast.
“Their achievement reflects years of training, dedication and commitment to serving their community, while also helping to inspire the next generation of Coast Guard volunteers.”
O’Reilly, who leads the unit's youth education initiatives, and McKinney, a 18-year veteran and current full-time Radio Watch Officer on Valencia Island, described the unpredictable nature of the work to LMFM.
O’Reilly said that while breaking ground as the first female crew felt amazing, they train and operate as equals alongside their male colleagues, united by a common goal to save lives.