THE Valentia Lifeboat Station - Ireland's most south-westerly guardian of the coastline - has entered a new era.
Opened in 1864 at Reenard Point in Co Kerry, the station was closed 32 years and 10 service launches later. Between 1939 and 1945, a temporary station was established, and in 1946, the decision was made to make Valentia permanent.
Since then there have been five different lifeboats. They have been launched on 536 occasions to brave the south-west Atlantic.
When the gales howl and the mountainous seas cascade, it is no picnic being out there. The gallant men who did go out during this period saved no less than 388 lives.
When the original station was opened, the cost was Pounds 508 - defrayed by a donation from one Miss Wasey.
Just recently, the Arun-class lifeboat which had served the south west coast so well was replaced by a Severn-class vessel. This time the cost was Pounds 1.5 million.
The new lifeboat will be capable of a speed of 25 knots for a 10 hour period, and will have a range of some 250 miles. Self-righting and state-of- the-art, it nevertheless often depends on the courage of its crew.
Again it was a bequest from a well-wisher which made it possible. The bequest was made to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by the late Mary Doig. Of Scottish origin, her parents, John and Margaret Doig, made their fortune from the fishing industry.
Ms Doig died in her 80s some years ago and her generous gift has enabled Valentia to take control of a magnificent new vessel. In tandem with the launch of the eponymous John and Margaret Doig, the Valentia station also celebrated the opening of a new boathouse.
The occasion - colourful in its own right - was made even more so by the appearance of the newly-elected Independent TD from Kilgarvan, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, and his erstwhile political master, Mr Charles J. Haughey.
The crowd was agog at the potential of the encounter. The larger-than- life politician was to meet the old boss.
Mr Haughey, of whom not too much has been seen in public lately, looked tanned and serene. However, he was willing to discuss anything except the Ben Duane affair. He mingled and enjoyed himself.
As Taoiseach he had been rescued by the lighthouse keepers of Mizen Head some years ago when his boat foundered. He has a natural love of the sea and seafaring; matters and of course, in Kerry, of all places, he felt at home.
"When I return to Kerry, like a Roman back to Rome, I sometimes get the feeling that I am coming home," he once wrote for the Festival of Kerry.
Mr Healy-Rae arrived in his tartan cap, bursting with enthusiasm and his new-found success. For once, Mr Haughey didn't have it all his own way. The photographers rushed towards the new TD as he made straight for the former Taoiseach.
Clearly, they retain great fondness for each other. "You're a great man, Jackie," Mr Haughey said, as the cameras worked overtime.