A new rescue boat was named after the late Captian Dara FitzPatrick in a ceremony held by Waterford City Civil Defence this weekend.
Dara served in the Waterford-based Rescue 117 for 10 years before joining Rescue 116.
On the 14th of March, 2017, she and her crew were tasked to a mission off the Mayo coast where sadly their helicopter crashed and she and all four crew members were killed.
Her mother, aunt, and best friend attended the ceremony on the Quay along with other Civil Defence volunteers, where the Dara Fitz was officially named.
Paul Nolan, Civil Defence Officer for Waterford City, explained to WLR that naming the boat after Dara would be a fitting way to remember her.
"We contacted the family and gave them a number of options of the names and they came back to us with the name the Dara Fitz. They were happy to do it and we were very happy to do it," he said.
The boat's use
The boat will be used in conjunction between the Civil Defence and Waterford City Fire Service for the rescue and recovery of persons from the River Suir.
The groups hope that the boat will aid with the saving of many lives and "bring closure and some sense of peace to families in the recovery of loved ones lost at sea."
The Dara Fitz is owned and maintained by Waterford City Civil Defence.
The RNLI also named a boat in Dunmore East this weekend. Read more here.
