A special naming ceremony has taken place in Kinsale in Co Cork this afternoon to honour a lifelong benefactor of the coastal town's RNLI station.
The station's new inshore lifeboat was officially named 'The Miss Sally Anne Baggy 11 - Never Fear, Baggy's Here'.
Affectionately known to her friends as 'Baggy', Sally Anne Odell, who lived in the south of England, died last November at the age of 81.
Miss Odell's relationship with the Kinsale RNLI crew began in the early 2000s when she funded a new boat.
It was decided to base it in Kinsale. She met the crew at the naming ceremony and became a regular visitor after that.
Fondly known by them as 'the Godmother', she not only funded that first inshore boat, but also contributed towards the town's new lifeboat station, and left provision in her Will for a second boat and its running costs.
The original 'Miss Sally Anne Baggy' was recently decommissioned after 15 years service.
It had taken part is some very high profile rescues including the rescue of 30 young people from the training ship ASTRID in 2013, and saving three fishermen from dangerous seas after their trawler, the Sean Anthony, sank in 2016.
The new Atlantic 85 lifeboat was accepted on behalf of the station today by James Brennan and named by Valerie Good, representing the late donor.
It is designed to operate in shallower water and is one of the fastest lifeboats in the fleet with a top speed of 35 knots.
Speaking before the naming ceremony, Kevin Gould, RNLI lifeboat operations manager said it would be a bittersweet occasion for them as Miss Odell is no longer with them.
"She will always be remembered by our community, and we will be forever grateful for her care and attention."
