RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Lough Ree RNLI Call Out to Sinking 70-foot Motorboat

23rd September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

At 9.15 am this morning Lough Ree RNLI Lifeboat was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard in Malin Head to come to the assistance of one person onboard a 70-foot motorboat which had taken on a lot of water overnight…

Deirdre King, Marketing Manager, Pavilions Shopping Centre and Ian Hunter, Centre Director, Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords, County Dublin presenting the RNLI with a cheque for €10,600. Representing the RNLI from Left to Right are Conor Walsh Divisional Maintenance Manager, Jan Doyle, Chairperson of Skerries RNLI Fundraising Branch, Skerries RNLI crewmember Steven Campion standing, and Skerries crewmembers Stephen Johnson and Paddy Dillon kneeling

RNLI Receives €10,600 Following Charity Partnership with Swords Pavilions

23rd September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI has been presented with a cheque for €10,600 from Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre following a successful charity partnership. The search and rescue charity which operates two lifeboat stations in North Dublin, at Howth and Skerries, raised funds throughout…

Crosshaven RNLI (above) rescued sailors from upturned boat

Crosshaven RNLI Rescue Capsized Sailors in Cork Harbour

22nd September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI rescued two sailors this evening after their catamaran dinghy capsized East of the Spit Lighthouse within Cork Harbour. The Crew of Crosshaven RNLI received pagers at 5.35 pm and launched with James Fegan in command and Caoimhe Foster,…

Skerries Lifeboat Tasked To Capsized Currach

22nd September 2019 Currachs

Skerries RNLI launched to the rescue of a man and two teenagers in the water after their currach capsized off the north Co Dublin town yesterday evening (Saturday 21 September). Just after 5pm, Dublin Coast Guard picked up a Mayday…

Carrybridge RNLI exercise with the passenger vessel, Inishcruiser

Carrybridge RNLI Exercise with Passenger Vessel, Inishcruiser

22nd September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

On Thursday 19 September, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards held a towing, casualty care and mass evacuation exercise with the passenger vessel from Share Discovery Village, Inishcruiser. The exercise took place close to the Share Centre.…

Shipwrecked Sailor Rescued from Inishark Island By Clifden RNLI

21st September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

In very challenging weather conditions yesterday evening, Clifden RNLI launched two lifeboats after the Coast Guard requested them to go to the aid of a lone sailor who had gone ashore on Inishark Island. His 25-foot yacht had engine failure…

Youghal RNLI set up a tow for the sunken boat

Youghal Lifeboat Called To Vessel Sinking In Harbour

21st September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A boat sinking on its moorings at Youghal Harbour in East Cork prompted a callout for the local RNLI volunteers yesterday afternoon (Friday 20 September). Only the bow of the 24ft boat was visible when the lifeboat crew arrived. A…

Baltimore’s inshore lifeboat taking the sailing vessel under tow

Baltimore Lifeboat Launches To Sailing Vessel Ashore On Island

20th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Two people were rescued by Baltimore RNLI yesterday afternoon (Thursday 19 September) after their sailing dinghy was stranded ashore on Spanish Island near the West Cork harbour. The inshore lifeboat was on scene within minutes, and quickly established a tow…

Baltimore RNLI Mark Centenary of the Lifeboat Station by Naming New Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Rita Daphne Smyth

9th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI held a special ceremony on the North Pier yesterday which saw the station receive a Vellum (Inscription of thanks from the Institution) marking one hundred years of saving lives at sea and the naming the new Atlantic 85…

Baltimore all-weather lifeboat on exercise with Rescue 117 prior to call out on Saturday 7 September

Motorboat In Difficulty Radios Baltimore Lifeboat Across Harbour For Assistance

9th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A motorboat that became propped up on pot buoys in Baltimore Harbour at the weekend made a direct call for help to the local RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat which was returning to base nearby. The incident occurred on Saturday evening (7…

Baltimore RNLI’s new Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat will be officially named Rita Daphne Smyth this Sunday

Baltimore RNLI To Name New Inshore Lifeboat On Centenary Of First Lifeboat’s Arrival

6th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI’s new Atlantic 85 lifeboat will be officially named Rita Daphne Smyth during a ceremony at the North Pier at 3pm this Sunday 8 September. As part of the station’s centenary celebrations, the lifeboat, which was placed on service…

The 24-metre fishing boat, with five persons aboard, had lost all power and requested assistance

Castletownbere RNLI Launch to Assist Fishing Vessel in Difficulties

5th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew at Castletownbere RNLI were launched yesterday afternoon to assist a 24-metre fishing vessel which had lost all power four miles west of the Bull Rock in West Cork. The lifeboat was tasked by Valentia Coastguard Radio shortly after…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI Mechanic Rescues Toby the Dog After Fall on East Pier

4th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s mechanic Kieran O’Connell came to the rescue of a small dog who fell from a height and became trapped on Dun Laoghaire’s East Pier this morning. A member of the public rang the lifeboat station at 11.40am…

Pictured from left are, Claire Morgan, Crosshaven RNLI shore crew and Maryborough Lunch Fundraising Committee, Avril O’Brien, Maryborough Lunch Fundraising Committee, Molly Murphy, Crosshaven RNLI crew member, Ruth McSweeney, Maryborough Lunch Fundraising Committee, Mary Creedon RNLI Community Fundraising Manager and James Fegan, Crosshaven RNLI crew member

Maryborough Lifeboat Lunch Returns to Raise Funds for Cork RNLI Stations

4th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

After a successful return last year, the Cork RNLI charity lunch and auction at Maryborough Hotel will be held on Friday 1 November to raise funds for Baltimore, Crosshaven and Kinsale RNLI lifeboat stations. The fundraising event is a popular…

The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat was involved in an early morning callout to a fishing boat (above) in trouble off the Kinsale Gas Field in West Cork

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat in Call to Fishing Boat off Kinsale Gas Field

4th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry all-weather Trent Class RNLI Lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn was called out at 2.36 am this morning Wednesday to go to the aid of an 85-foot fishing boat which sought assistance as it got into difficulties near the Kinsale…

Jack Lowe at work photographing Dungeness RNLI’s volunteers

Photographer Jack Lowe Tours Northern Ireland In Bid To Capture Every RNLI Lifeboat Station With Victorian Camera

4th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Nearly five years into his epic project to photograph every RNLI lifeboat station with a Victorian-era camera, Jack Lowe this week began the Northern Ireland leg of the mammoth undertaking. Starting yesterday (Tuesday 3 September) at Red Bay, Lowe’s four-week…

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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