There was a lovely but poignant evening at the Meath River rescue boat house recently as Fr Richard Matthew’s blessed the boat purchased as a result of a huge fundraising drive by the Smith and Collins family in memory of James Smyth Collins. RIP..
The boat was purchased and handed over to Meath River Rescue at their fantastic facility in Beechmount industrial estate.
Cllr Wayne Harding paid tribute to the work the Meath River Rescue carry out on an ongoing basis many times when tragedy visits families all over the county. ” You would always hope that the facilities are not called upon, but it is a fact of life that they will be and more often than not it is in extreme weather conditions which damage equipment and boats.
“The Collins and Smyth families are very well liked and highly respected within their community and in the aftermath of tragedy visiting them there was an extraordinary community response first of all in the search when their beloved James went missing last summer and was suspected to be in the river Boyne and then in the massive fundraising drive.
“The new boat, named after James was blessed by Fr Matthew’s at what was a really beautiful ceremony. May all stay safe who sail in her.”
