The first lifeboat station in Dundalk Bay was established in 1859 following the loss of the Mary Stoddart in 1858. The Life Boathouse was erected by Lord Clermont and from 1859 to 1935 it had four lifeboats with the last two both being named the General R. Dudley Blake. The service was called out forty times and saved eighty four lives.

CONSERVATION REPORT 2025

Background

The General Richard Dudley-Blake lifeboat is the last lifeboat associated with Blackrock Lifeboat Station (1859–1935) and is closely linked to the famous Mary Stoddart disaster of April 1858. After the station closed, the vessel had a long second life as a working lobster boat in Limerick and later as the pleasure boat “St Therese” in Howth, before finally being brought back to Blackrock by community fundraising in 2018. In 2025, with support from The Heritage Council
Community Heritage Grant Scheme, Blackrock Tourism Group commissioned a feasibility and conservation study to determine how the lifeboat could be stabilised, conserved and displayed as a public heritage asset.

Purpose of the Study

The study set out to:
• Assess the historical and cultural significance of the lifeboat;
• Inspect its current condition and vulnerabilities;
• Identify immediate stabilisation needs;
• Outline realistic conservation and restoration options; and
• Propose feasible locations and an overall roadmap for public display in Blackrock.

Key Findings – Significance

• The vessel has strong historical connections to Blackrock Lifeboat Station and to lifesaving in Dundalk Bay.
• It embodies the memory of the Mary Stoddart disaster and the subsequent establishment of an RNLI station at Blackrock.
• As a rare surviving RNLI pulling lifeboat with a long working life, it is of regional and national maritime heritage interest.
• The project builds on many years of local research, talks, publications and heritage trail development by the Blackrock community.

Condition and Vulnerability

• The lifeboat is stored in a three-sided barn near Ardee. The location is secure but the is expose to rain and wind.
• Externally, much of the paint survives, but there is localised timber decay, a hull puncture and corrosion to metal fittings.
• Internally, rainwater is falling into the boat, leading to the loss of protective paint, algal growth, softening and collapse of some internal timbers and corrosion of fixtures.
• Exposure to water is the single greatest threat will lead to progressive loss of original timber fabric.

Immediate Stabilisation – “Buy Time”

The report recommends:
1. Generate a protective roof stricture to prevent water exposure while in storage.
2. Creating a clear ventilated working zone around the vessel, removing stored items and
providing safe access and a working platform for future repairs.

Conservation & Restoration Roadmap

Once stabilised, the next key steps are:
• 3D laser scanning of the hull to create an accurate digital record and guide repair work;
• Commissioning a traditional boat repair specialist to specify detailed repairs, separate professional tasks from community volunteer work, and cost the interventions;
• Phased conservation and repair of the hull, timbers, fastenings and coatings to bring the vessel to a stable long-term condition suitable for static display;
• Securing a permanent, publicly accessible display site in Blackrock, with the south end of the village foreshore identified as the preferred option.
• Designing interpretation and signage that links the lifeboat to the story of the Mary Stoddart, Blackrock Lifeboat Station and the wider maritime heritage of Dundalk Bay.

Benefits for Blackrock

The feasibility study concludes that, with targeted investment and community involvement, the General R. Dudley-Blake lifeboat can be conserved as a powerful coastal landmark, strengthening local identity, enhancing the existing heritage trail and providing a new point of
interest for residents and visitors along the Blackrock promenade.