RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat on a previous launch

Youghal Lifeboat Launches To Fishing Boat With Engine Trouble

2nd August 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged this morning (Sunday 2 August) at 8.03am to help a one-person fishing boat with engine trouble, six miles south of Capel Island off East Cork. Operating safely within the RNLI and Government Covid-19 guidelines,…

File image of Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Woman Rescued From Water After Fall While Coasteering Near Giant’s Causeway

2nd August 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launched to the rescue of a 50-year-old woman who fell into the water while with a coasteering group at Dunseverick near the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland yesterday afternoon (Saturday 1 August). The volunteer crew applied…

Wicklow RNLI Launch to Assist Yacht with Mechanical Problems

1st August 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow all-weather RNLI lifeboat launched shortly after 12:45 pm today (Saturday 1 August) following a Coast Guard launch request, to assist a 14-metre ketch with four people onboard near Greystones. The drifting yacht was located 30 minutes later by Coxswain…

RNLI all-weather Achill lifeboat in Co Mayo

RNLI & Irish Water Safety - Living With Covid 19 Guidelines

1st August 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI stations are reporting a busy season as more people stay at home for holidays due to the Covid-19 restrictions. As The Irish Examiner reports, new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to adhere with Covid-19 public health and safety guidelines have…

Larne Lifeboat Launches To Jet Skier In Difficulty

31st July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI rescued a jet skier who had fallen into the water off the Co Antrim coast and couldn’t get back onto his craft. The volunteer crew launched the in-shore lifeboat Terry just after 8pm on Tuesday evening and reached…

New Water Safety Website is Launched

31st July 2020 Water Safety

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton TD today (31 July) launched the newly updated Safety on the Water website. This is a collaboration between the Coast Guard, RNLI, Water Safety Ireland, Irish Sailing and BIM, and…

Former Cork Harbour Lifeboatman Saves Two Men in €49.99 Supermarket Boat

28th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Aengus O’Donovan, a former Crosshaven RNLI crew member was returning to Crosshaven in his trawler, the 10m Majestic IV this afternoon when he spotted two young men in a supermarket inflatable boat/toy with no lifejackets approximately 1 mile south of…

Baltimore RNLI all weather lifeboat with the casulaty yacht alongside in Baltimore Harbour

Baltimore RNLI Provides Assistance to Yacht in Difficulty

27th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out earlier this afternoon (Monday 27 July) to provide assistance to a yacht in difficulty near Middle Calf Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 4.55 pm,…

Bundoran inshore lifeboat approaching Rossnowlagh beach

Bundoran RNLI Called to Two Bodyboarders

27th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI was called out on Sunday afternoon to reports of bodyboarders in trouble at Rossnowlagh Beach. Just after 2:05pm, the crew was alerted to the situation by Malin Head Coast Guard who had received an…

Using navigation charts and taking depth soundings, the Lough Derg lifeboat made a careful approach to the cruiser

Lough Derg RNLI Assist Motor Cruiser Aground

26th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to go to the assistance of six people on a 42ft motor cruiser that ran aground at the southern end of the Corakeen Islands, in Dromineer Bay yesterday afternoon. The wind was westerly,…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI lifeboats assisted the jetskis

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Lifeboats Rescue Two People after Jet Skis Suffer Engine Problems

25th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

At 9:11 pm last night (Friday 24 July), Dublin Coast Guard requested Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI to assist two people on separate jet skis which had engine issues just off the North Bull wall in Dublin Bay. The all-weather lifeboat…

Ballycotton RNLI all-weather Trent class lifeboat Austin Lidbury

Ballycotton RNLI in Search for Swimmers Reported Missing off Garryvoe

21st July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballycotton RNLI in East Cork was launched at 7.30 pm this evening following a request from Valentia Coastguard to a report of two swimmers thought to be missing off Garryvoe beach approx. two miles west of Ballycotton by a concerned…

Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat Provides 'Medevac' from Sherkin Island

20th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out to provide a medical evacuation last night (Sunday 19 July) from Sherkin Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 7.49 pm, following a request from…

The jetski was retrieved by Portrush Lifeboat

Jetski Kill Cord Incident at Benone Beach on the North Coast

20th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Yesterday evening Coleraine Coastguard responded to a report of a person falling from a Jetski at Benone Beach. This popular Blue Flag beach stretches for over seven miles on the North Coast, from Downhill westwards to where it meets Magilligan…

Lough Derg RNLI with the 21-yacht aground

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 21ft Yacht Aground by Jushing Rocks

19th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI assisted 2 people on a 21ft yacht aground by Jushing Rocks, west of the Scilly Islands on the Ogonoloe shore in County Clare. Earlier this evening, Sunday, July 19, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to…

Crosshaven RNLI off Roches Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour

Crosshaven RNLI Assist Powerboat with Two Persons Onboard

19th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteers of Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat were paged at 5.51 pm this evening (Saturday 19 July) to go to the aid of a broken-down vessel, East of Power Head at the entrance to Cork Harbour. The lifeboat with Ian Venner…

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Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset