The station was established at Lough Erne Yacht Club, operating out of three portakabins, with the placement of two lifeboats, a B-class (Atlantic 21), Blenwatch (B-549), and a smaller unnamed E-class Valiant RIB.

When the Coastguard took over responsibility for search and rescue on Lough Erne from the police, the station was declared operational on 24 May 2001.

[2][5] On the Sunday before the official opening, the RNLI lifeboat took part in a search for a missing German tourist whose boat had run aground in Lower Lough Erne.

A second man also died, after their cruiser ran aground on Cleenishgarve Island near Castle Archdale on Lower Lough Erne.

John’s lifelong interest in sailing was shared by his devoted wife, Jean, and it was their joint decision that the RNLI receive a legacy to finance a lifeboat.

Along with housing both lifeboat, carriage and launch tractor, there are modern crew facilities, a workshop, office and training room.

Solar panels are fitted to the roof, with ground source heating helping to reduce energy usage.

Contribution to the construction was received from the family of the late Alfred Russell Wallace Weir from Bangor, County Down, in his memory.