RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Lerwick lifeboat crew at the scene of the grounded vessel late Friday night

Lerwick Lifeboat Aids Crew Of Grounded Vessel

18th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lerwick lifeboat launched late Friday night (15 November) to the aid of a fishing vessel which had grounded on rocks just north of the Shetland Islands harbour. The 26-metre, Inverness-registered trawler was stuck fast and was listing when the Severn-class…

File image of Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Three Fishermen Rescued By Wicklow Lifeboat

18th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat put to sea at 1.20pm on Saturday afternoon (16 November) after being tasked to assist a whelk fishing vessel in difficulties. The lifeboat, under the command of coxswain Nick Keogh and a volunteer crew, was alongside…

Bundoran RNLI Carry Out Search After Capsized Kayak Found off the Shore at Nuns Pool

15th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat this afternoon after a concerned crew member spotted an upturned kayak just off the shore at Nuns Pool. Crew member Fergal Muller was at the cliffs on Bundoran’s West End when he raised…

A 'Perfect Storm' Hits the RNLI

14th November 2019 Tom MacSweeney

As a new lifeboat arrived in Lough Ree on Tuesday an envelope arrived on my desk from the RNLI, painting a perspective of the lifeboat service from a different viewpoint. As Afloat reported earlier, the new Atlantic 85 on Athlone’s…

The North Coast fundraising team display their Islay Sea Collection that’s now up for auction

Sailors Do A ‘Whiskey Run’ For Portrush & Islay Lifeboats

14th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A group of seven men from the North Coast hatched a novel way to carry out some fundraising for the Portrush and Islay RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews recently. As a group of keen sailors and avid supporters of the RNLI…

The lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards approaches the stricken vessel at an island in Upper Lough Erne

Carrybridge Lifeboat Assists Vessel Adrift Near Island In Upper Lough Erne

13th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launched yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 12 November) to a vessel adrift close to an island in Upper Lough Erne north-east of Knockninny Marina. Winds were north-westerly Force 2 when the lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards arrived…

The Tara Scougall ready for first launch

Lough Ree RNLI's New Atlantic 85 Class Lifeboat Arrives at Coosan Point

13th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat, Tara Scougall, has gone on service at Lough Ree RNLI. The lifeboat which arrived at the Coosan Point lifeboat station today, Tuesday 12 November 2019, replaces The Eric Rowse which has been used for…

Tony Hiney (left) is presented with a canvas photograph of Clifden’s new Shannon lifeboat

Tributes Paid To Lifeboat Volunteers In Connemara

11th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Members of the Connemara/Clifden RNLI Lifeboats Fundraising Branch gathered at the Station House Hotel in Clifden recently to acknowledge the contributions and retirements of some longstanding members. Area fundraising manager Tony Hiney, who is himself set to retire this year,…

Youghal RNLI Assist Grounded Yacht

9th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI was tasked at 11.58 am on Friday 8 November by the Coast Guard to help assist them in recovering a yacht that had gone aground at Harvey’s Dock after becoming loose from its moorings. In calm and clear…

James Fegan, Crosshaven RNLI with Hugh Tully, Chairman Crosshaven RNLI alongside Owen & Maeve Hackett, Kinsale RNLI, at the RNLI Fundraising Lunch 2019, Maryborough Hotel & Spa, Douglas, 1st November 2019

Maryborough Lunch Raises €15,100 for Cork Lifeboats

8th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The popular Cork RNLI fundraising lunch and auction, which took place at the Maryborough Hotel last week (Friday, 1 November), proved a huge success, raising €15,100 for the life-saving charity. The event was attended by two hundred guests who came…

Aran Islands RNLI Responds to Two Medical Evacuation Requests

6th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI has responded to consecutive calls for help today to carry out two medical evacuations. The volunteer crew were first asked to launch their all-weather lifeboat David Kirkaldy, at 11.25 am by the Irish Coast Guard. An elderly…

The lifeboat crew set up an astern tow and took the boat from the rocks and into safe waters

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 30ft Yacht Aground near Pike Island

6th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

At 3.40 pm yesterday Lough Derg RNLI was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to go to the assistance of two people whose vessel had run aground near Pike Island, north of Kilgarvan Quay on the Tipperary shore. Volunteer crew with…

The 19 metre fishing vessel experienced difficulty off the Bull Rock on the Beara peninsula in West Cork

Castletownbere RNLI Launch to Assist Fishing Vessel off Beara Peninsula

5th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew at Castletownbere RNLI were launched early this morning just after 03.30 a.m. to assist a 19-metre fishing vessel which experienced difficulties off the Bull Rock off the Beara peninsula in West Cork. The alarm was raised when the…

Carrybridge RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Douglas Euan and Kay Richards and rescue water craft

Carrybridge RNLI Seeks New Lifeboat Volunteers For Lough Erne

5th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI is looking for new volunteer crew members to join its search and rescue service on Lough Erne. The station, on the River Erne between the upper and lower loughs, is now calling on potential recruits to come forward…

Bundoran RNLI’s volunteer crew make their way to the scene

Four Rescued From Co Sligo Island After Vessel Capsizes

4th November 2019 Rescue

Four people have been rescued from an island off the Sligo coast after their vessel washed up on rocks. Bundoran RNLI’s volunteer crew launched to the incident at Inishmurray Island yesterday afternoon (Sunday 3 November) along with the Irish Coast…

Portaferry and Newcastle RNLI working with Rescue 116 to rescue the crew of the grounded fishing boat

Five Crew Rescued From Fishing Boat Aground At Ardglass Harbour

24th October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Five crew were rescued from a fishing vessel that ran aground on rocks on approach to Ardglass Harbour early yesterday morning (Wednesday 23 October). Portaferry and Newcastle RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews launched to assist after a Mayday call from the…

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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