THE first Life-boat Station was estab- lished in Ireland, at Arklow, in 1826, two years after the foundation of the Institu- tion itself, and since then the Institution has continued to maintain the Life-boats on the Irish coast, where it has now twenty-four Stations, of which eight are equipped with Motor Life-boats, while another Motor Life-boat is under con- struction and another four will shortly be laid down.

This work in Ireland has not been affected by the political changes and the setting up of an Irish Free State Govern- i ment with the status of a Dominion. At | the express wish of this Government the ! Institution is continuing to maintain the j Service in the Free State as well as in j Northern Ireland. The Governor-Gene- ral of the Free State, Mr. T. M. Healy, : K.C., and the Governor of Northern Ire- ; land, the Duke of Abercorn, K.P., have accepted the Institution's invitation to : become Patrons of the Irish Free State ! District and the Northern Ireland District respectively, and both have issued ap- peals to the Irish people to give the Life- boat Service whole-hearted support..