Irish Examiner view: Volunteers are our true community gold

We should make an effort and let the volunteers working to lift our communities know that their efforts are recognised and cherished

Long-serving Baltimore RNLI coxswain Kieran Cotter and crew member, Ronnie Carthy, on their last call out in October.  Picture: RNLI/Micheal Cottrell.

There is hardly a community on this island that is not made stronger, that is not enriched by the efforts, sometimes mundane, sometimes heroic, of volunteers. 

Today one West Cork community will recognise and celebrate one such contribution when lifeboat coxswain Kieran Cotter retires after 45 years of service.