Dun Laoghaire RNLI have given a lifeboat an unusual name in honour of an English couple.
Joval is named after the London pair that retired in Ireland after completely falling in love with the country.
Mrs Valerie Staunton asked for an inshore lifeboat to be funded by her legacy and named after both her and her late husband, John.
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The pair, who were originally from England, fell in love with Ireland when cruising on the Shannon in the late 1960s and had a passion for being on the water.
An official naming ceremony and service of dedication took place today with the RNLI delighted to launch the new part of the fleet.
RNLI Trustee and Irish Council member Paddy McLaughlin said that the importance of this piece of life-saving equipment cannot be overstated.
He said: "I know how special these events are to a station. This isn’t just an occasion but rather an acknowledgement of an incredible lifesaving gift that a donor has given us, a gift that will go on many journeys with the lifeboat crew and one which will save many people over its lifetime.
"The power and the responsibility of the D-class can’t be denied. It was designed and built for a very clear purpose, it’s speed and efficiency making it so effective in saving lives.
"A highly manoeuvrable, inflatable lifeboat, it generally operates close to shore, coming into its own for searches and rescues close to cliffs and shores, something very familiar to this lifeboat crew."
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