Scores of people lined the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire in Dublin earlier to commemorate an 1895 sea tragedy which killed an entire lifeboat crew.
Fifteen men, volunteers with the RNLI, died in the Christmas Eve disaster which happened 129 years ago today.
"There was a terrible storm in Dublin Bay,' said David Branigan, from Dún Laoghaire RNLI.
"There was a Finnish ship (the SS Palme) that was sailing into difficulty.
"They put up signals of distress. The lifeboat from what was then Kingstown, now Dún Laoghaire, launched to try and save the people on board.
"A huge wave capsized the boat and all 15 crew members are thrown into the water and drowned,' he said.
A second Dún Laoghaire lifeboat, then launched but it too capsized, fortunately all of her crew returned safely.
The crew of the stricken SS Palme would eventually be all rescued on the 26 December.
Mr Branigan says the disaster left its mark on the area.
"It's something that has never been forgotten,' he said.
"It's something that has left its mark over the years ... Times have changed, our boats are a lot safer, our equipment is a lot stronger.
"That's down to the generosity of the people who give to our charity, which is 100% funded by charitable donations and is an essential part of our communities around the coast of Ireland and Britain,' he said.
At midday, members of the RNLI laid wreaths at sea to remember their 15 fallen lifeboat colleagues.
The ceremony also included an ecumenical blessing, a reading from a news article published at the time and the singing of a ballad about the tragedy.
The names of all 15 crew who lost their lives were also read out.
They were: Alexander Williams, Henry Williams, John Baker, John Bartley, Edward Crowe, Thomas Dunphy, William Dunphy, Francis McDonald, Edward Murphy, Patrick Power, James Ryan, George Saunders, Francis Saunders, Edward Shannon, and Henry Underhill.
This event also commemorated those who lost their lives this year in our waters.
People also gathered to pay tribute to the work of the RNLI.
Jean Douglas' father, Donald was a regular sailor in Dublin Bay, before he died in a sailing accident in Dún Laoghaire 51 years ago.
"I'm quite emotional remembering him today," said Ms Douglas.
"The RNLI is a wonderful institution, they are fantastic ... I think it's wonderful to pay homage to the people who protect us here."
