This year marks the centenary of the Fethard lifeboat disaster, when nine volunteers from the Co Wexford station died during a brave rescue attempt in unforgiving seas.

On 20 February 1914, 14 Fethard crew members launched to rescue the schooner Mexico, which was running aground on an island. A heavy gale was blowing, and large waves were breaking.

The volunteers were just metres from reaching the Mexico when their lifeboat was overcome by the waves and wrecked. Coxswain Christopher Bird, Bowman Thomas Handrick, Crew Members Michael Handrick, James Morrissey, Patrick Roche, Patrick Cullen, William Bird, William Banville and Patrick Stafford all lost their lives.

The five remaining lifeboat volunteers managed to scramble ashore, where they helped the survivors of the wrecked Mexico onto the island. They survived on the island with barely any food or water until 23 February, when they were rescued by their fellow lifeboat volunteers from Wexford and Dunmore East (pictured helping the survivors ashore).

For more on the tragedy and rescue, visit RNLI.org/fethardanniversary.