30/08/2026
Well done to our very own Jean and crew for making history for Irish Coast Guard east coast unit
So proud of your work ladies 🛥️
A Special First for Drogheda Coast Guard.
It was a proud moment for Drogheda Coast Guard recently when, for the first time, the unit was able to field a fully operational all-female Search and Rescue boat crew — believed to be a first for an Irish Coast Guard unit on the East Coast.
Pictured are Sue McKinney (centre), Coxswain, Charlotte McDaid (left), Deputy Coxswain, and Jean O'Reilly (right), Crew Member.
For the three ladies involved, it isn't really about making history. It's about the years of training, callouts and commitment that have brought them to this point.
For Sue, it has been a journey of almost 20 years.
A long-serving member of Drogheda Coast Guard, she has worked her way through the different operational roles within the unit, completing the training and gaining the experience needed along the way. Four years ago, she qualified as a Coxswain and can now find herself heading out on an operational tasking with a full female crew alongside her.
Search and Rescue isn't just something Sue does in her spare time either. She is also a Watch Officer with the Irish Coast Guard at Valentia, where she helps coordinate Coast Guard responses to incidents around Ireland's south and south-west coasts.
When she's off duty, she swaps Valentia for Drogheda and continues to give her time as a volunteer member of the unit.
Charlotte's Coast Guard story started on the other side of the country.
Originally from Donegal, she volunteered with Killybegs Coast Guard before transferring to Drogheda when she and her husband Kieran moved to the area for work commitments.
An accountant by profession, Charlotte now has another fairly demanding job on her hands — being mum to a five-month-old baby Rosie.
Somehow, she still finds the time to train and continue progressing through her Coast Guard qualifications.
She is currently working towards becoming a Coxswain herself, which would see her join the relatively small number of female Coxswains within the Irish Coast Guard.
Jean came to the Coast Guard with plenty of experience around the water already.
An accomplished lifeguard and swimming instructor, she joined the unit to build on her knowledge of water safety and develop her skills in Search and Rescue.
She is also passionate about passing that knowledge on, Gene gives her time to educating young people about water safety, including visiting schools and helping children understand how to stay safe around the water.
Search and Rescue has traditionally been a very male-dominated environment, so seeing Sue, Charlotte and Gene heading out together as an operational crew is a great reflection of how things have changed.
But when the pager goes, none of that really matters.
They're simply three trained Coast Guard volunteers, ready to launch and do the job they have spent years preparing for.
A great achievement for Sue, Charlotte and Jean, and a very proud moment for everyone at Drogheda Coast Guard.
Remember: If you see someone in difficulty on or near the water, dial 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.
Irish Coast Guard Killybegs Coast Guard
