I went back to Ballycotton on Sunday, and the Mary Stanford has now been restored to it’s former glory, as you will see from the photos. A fitting tribute to a brave boat and crew.
The Mary Stanford
On a visit to Ballycotton last weekend, I was intrigued by the very battered and bruised old lifeboat on display overlooking the lighthouse. This was the Mary Stanford, and it was only when I got home and asked the all knowing ‘ Dr Google’, that I found out the intriguing history of this very hard working little boat with the big heart.
RNLB Mary Stanford
Unusually, this lifeboat was the only lifeboat in Ireland that was awarded a gold medal for gallantry. Often lifeboat crews receive medals for gallantry, but in this case the lifeboat also received a gold medal, for the famous Daunt Lightship rescue in February 1936. The original Mary Stanford was built in 1916, and was stationed in Rye, England, but was lost in a storm in 1928, when it went down with all 17 crew on board.
In 1930, the son of Mary Stanford paid…
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Retirement and beyond 
Mar 01, 2016 @ 10:28:41
It looks in beautiful condition now.
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Mar 01, 2016 @ 10:52:44
It’s such a transformation. A lot of hard work went into it.
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Mar 01, 2016 @ 11:10:23
They made a very nice job of it. The special treatment is well-deserved too given its history. 🙂
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Mar 01, 2016 @ 12:08:59
Exactly,
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Mar 01, 2016 @ 12:22:51
Looks great 🙂
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Mar 01, 2016 @ 13:18:55
Yes it is a great renovation!
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Mar 02, 2016 @ 22:39:54
I know about the lifeboats, and the heroics of the crews, mostly from time spent in Cornwall. Glad to know this Irish boat is getting her due!
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Mar 02, 2016 @ 23:02:32
Yes. It looks great now, fully restored
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