Kerry woman becomes Ireland's first female lifeboat coxswain after more than 200 rescues

Denise Lynch has been on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for nearly 20 years

Denise Lynch:  After decades on the water, over 200 rescues and years of gruelling assessments, she passed the coxswain pass-out exam with flying colours at Fenit station in Kerry.

For Denise Lynch, clipping on her RNLI beeper every morning is as natural as putting on her shoes and socks.

The 37-year-old has been on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for nearly 20 years  — and now she has made history by becoming the first-ever Irish female coxswain with the rescue charity.