RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The casualty prepared for transfer to the Kilmore Quay lifeboat

Man Airlifted To Hospital After Mayday On Yacht Off Kilmore Quay

1st July 2019 Rescue

A man was taken to hospital with hand injuries by Irish Coast Guard helicopter after a Mayday call on a yacht off Kilmore Quay on Saturday (29 June). The local RNLI lifeboat crew were en route to another vessel that had…

File image of Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Baltimore Lifeboat Launches To Propped Yacht South Of Mizen Head

29th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI launched yesterday morning (Friday 28 June) after a yacht became propped on a pot buoy two miles south of Mizen Head off the coast of West Cork. The all-weather lifeboat launched at 10.03am following a request by the…

Aran Islands RNLI approaching the yacht off Gorumna Island

Aran Islands Lifeboat Rescues Two On Yacht In Difficulty Off Gorumna Island

28th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI rescued two sailors after their 38ft yacht got into difficulties off Gorumna Island in Co Galway yesterday morning (Thursday 27 June). The station received the shout at 7.27am and the lifeboat David Kirkaldy launched under coxswain Tommy…

The Union Hall lifeboat and shore crew following the call out

Union Hall RNLI Assists Swimmer Reported Missing off Owenahincha Beach

27th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Union Hall RNLI assisted a swimmer who was reported missing off Owenahincha Beach this afternoon. The volunteer crew was requested by the Irish Coast Guard to launch their inshore lifeboat at 1.24pm after the alarm was raised by a lifeguard…

The lifeboat guided the yacht alongside the pier in Kilronan Harbour

Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat Assists 38ft Yacht in Difficulty off Gorumna Island

27th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI has come to the aid of two sailors this morning after their 38ft yacht got into difficulties off Gorumna Island in County Galway. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 7.27am (Thursday 27…

File image of Portrush RNLI's inshore lifeboat

Portrush Lifeboat Rescues Swimmers In Difficulty At Dunluce Castle

26th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch at 6.03pm last night (Tuesday 25 June) to reports of two swimmers in difficulty in the vicinity of Dunluce Castle. Belfast Coastguard’s initial request to launch was based on reports of a…

Baltimore Lifeboat Called Out Three Times In 24 Hours

26th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The first of three callouts in 24 hours for Baltimore’s RNLI lifeboat volunteers was yesterday morning (Tuesday 25 June), when the all-weather lifeboat was launched to provide medical assistance and evacuation to a man on Cape Clear Island. The lifeboat…

Clifden RNLI returning to shore after last night’s launch

Clifden RNLI Rescue 3 Jet Skiers in Darkness

25th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

At 21.04 last night, Clifden RNLI’s pagers sounded to launch in response to reports of two broken down jet skis between Inishbofin and Cleggan with three people on board. Weather conditions were favourable at the time and the Atlantic 85…

Crew member Ross Stewart, his wife Leah and son Ben enjoying the open day

Larne RNLI’s Open Day Celebrates 25 Years Of Saving Lives At Sea

24th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

This past Saturday 22 June, Larne RNLI opened its doors to the public to celebrate 25 years of saving lives at sea in the local area. Since the station opened in in 1994, Larne lifeboat volunteers have launched 514 times,…

Kilkeel Lifeboat Rescues Two People On Stranded French Yacht

24th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilkeel RNLI’s volunteer crew launched at 1.20pm yesterday (Sunday 23 June) to go to the aid of the 44ft French yacht with two people onboard that was stranded two miles off Annalong Harbour in Co Down. In fresh conditions with…

Crosshaven RNLI’s inshore lifeboat John and Janet

Crosshaven Lifeboat Assists Yacht With ‘Smoke In Engine Bay’

24th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI has came to the aid of a sailor after his yacht got into difficulty off Cork Head on Friday (21 June). The UK-registered yacht en route from Kinsale to Crosshaven broadcast a PAN PAN alert after its skipper…

Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat off Roches Point

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Crew Rescue Kitesurfer In Difficulty

23rd June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat Frederick Stormy Cockburn was called out just after midday yesterday (Saturday 22 June) to go to the aid of a kitesurfer who had got into difficulties off Harbour View in Courtmacsherry Bay. Under coxswain…

Aran Islands RNLI's all-weather lifeboat

Early Morning Callout For Aran Islands Lifeboat To Help Injured Man

23rd June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked to launch their all-weather lifeboat early in the early hours of yesterday morning, Saturday 22 June. A young man visiting Inis Mór had sustained an eye injury that required further medical attention.…

Ballyglass Lifeboat Rescues Two Anglers After Boat Runs Adrift In Broadhaven Bay

22nd June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballyglass RNLI rescued two fishermen whose boat got into difficulty and ran adrift in Broadhaven Bay on Thursday afternoon (20 June). The station’s all-weather volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch and locate the sea anglers drifting into danger in…

Lough Ree lifeboat volunteers approaching a motor cruiser run around earlier this week

Lough Ree Lifeboat Diverts From Training For Two Callouts

21st June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI volunteers diverted from a training exercise yesterday evening (Thursday 20 June) on two separate callouts. While carrying out their regular monthly training on board the inshore lifeboat The Eric Rowse, the RNLI crew were requested by the Irish…

The 30ft yacht experienced difficulty in heavy fog off the Beara peninsula

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat Launch to Yacht in Difficulty

18th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew at Castletownbere RNLI were launched this afternoon at 14.30 to assist a 30ft yacht which experienced difficulty in heavy fog off the Beara peninsula in West Cork. The alarm was raised when a lone yachtsman experienced difficulty in…

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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