RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Dun Laoghaire’s inshore lifeboat returns to the harbour after rescuing swimmers at nearby Dalkey Island on Dublin Bay

Swimmers at Dalkey Island Rescued by Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI

20th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A group of swimmers were rescued by Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI this morning near Dalkey Island on Dublin Bay. The crew was on a training exercise in the station’s inshore lifeboat when they were alerted to an incident unfolding at Dalkey…

File image of RNLI’s inshore and all-weather lifeboats

Larne Lifeboats Rescue Two From the Water Off Portmuck

20th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI were requested on Friday (18 August) to launch both of their lifeboats to reports of two people in the water some 200 metres from Portmuck in Islandmagee, on Northern Ireland’s East Antrim coast. Launching both lifeboats at 3.25pm…

File image of Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat in rough seas

Portrush Lifeboat Responds to Mayday Call From Pleasure Boat Near Portstewart

20th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI volunteers were tasked by HM Coastguard at 12:50pm on Saturday afternoon (19 August) to respond to a Mayday call made by a pleasure boat with three on board which was taking on water between Portstewart and Barmouth. Launching…

A blurry photo of Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat with the yacht off Dromquinna on the Kenmare Peninsula during Storm Betty

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Yacht in Storm Betty

19th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A yacht that got into difficulty during Storm Betty was rescued by the West Cork Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat on Saturday morning. The sailors had been anchored off Dromquinna on the Kenmare Peninsula, but as the storm worsened, the vessel dragged anchor…

RNLI Launches “200 Voices” Podcast to Mark its Bicentenary

19th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI’s new 200 Voices podcast launched on Friday 18 August with the first of 200 episodes that will be released daily in the run-up to the charity’s bicentenary on 4 March 2024 200 Voices will explore captivating stories from…

Lifeguards preparing to launch a drone from Crantock Beach in Newquay

RNLI Testing Specialised Drone Technology to Aid in Rescues and Water Safety

19th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI has partnered with the UK’s Royal Life Saving Society to test the use of drones in emergency responses. As Marine Industry News reports, RNLI lifeguards in Cornwall have been using a waterproof drone from Swell Pro to help…

Dunmore East RNLI tows a French yacht back to the harbour, one of two tows it completed of the 6-metre yachts west of Hook Head

Two Solo Sailors Rescued By RNLI Dunmore East Crew in Separate Incidents

18th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat crew called out twice yesterday (17 August) to assist two solo sailors who were part of the qualifying stages for a long-distance solo race. Each sailor was piloting their own 6m sail-only vessels and had intended…

The Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI All Weather lifeboat operating on Dublin Bay

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Lifeboats Respond to Ten Emergency Calls in One Week

16th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew of Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI has been kept busy over the past week, responding to ten calls for assistance from the Dublin Bay area. The Coast Guard sought the help of the Inshore and All Weather lifeboats…

Buddy the border collie is safe and sound back at the Sligo Bay lifeboat station

Sligo Bay Lifeboat Brings Buddy the Dog Home After Sandbank Stranding Ordeal

15th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Sligo Bay RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard on Sunday morning (13 August) to reports of a dog who had become stranded on a sandbank at Culleenamore near Strandhill in Ballisodare Bay. Buddy the…

File image of Wexford RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Back-to-Back Calls on Sunday for Wexford Lifeboat

15th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Wexford RNLI’s inshore lifeboat had a busy Sunday afternoon (13 August) with two back-to-back rescue efforts. Lifeboat helm Damien Foley and volunteer crew Ger Doran and Donal Troddyn were first tasked with assisting two people whose boat suffered engine failure…

Courtown RNLI's inshore lifeboat took over the tow and safely brought the cabin cruiser into Courtown Harbour

Men and Boy Rescued by RNLI After Cabin Cruiser Engine Failure Off Coast of Cahore

15th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Two men and a boy were rescued by the Courtown RNLI on August 9th after their cabin cruiser experienced engine failure off the coast of Cahore. The Arklow RNLI initially responded to the distress call and had the vessel under tow…

Red Bay RNLI inshore lifeboat launches at Cushendall in County Antrim

Two Men Rescued By Red Bay RNLI After Speedboat Catches Fire off Antrim Coast

15th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Two men were rescued by the Red Bay RNLI after their 18ft speedboat caught fire off the coast of Antrim. The incident occurred south of Rathlin Island, and the rescue team was quickly on the scene after being alerted by…

RNLI Wexford fundraiser: An exhibition 'A Maritime History of Co. Wexford ' to be held in Kilmore Quay, and will be officially opened on Saturday, 26 August at 11 am by Sean Boyce, Senior Master of the Rosslare-Cherbourg cruise ferry Stena Vision which entered service at the end of June. The exhibition will also continue on Sunday, 27 August.

Maritime Exhibition on Wexford to Raise Funds for County’s RNLI Lifeboats

14th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A fundraising exhibition in aid of Co. Wexford’s five RNLI lifeboat stations will share in the proceeds from the event held in the Stella Maris Centre in Kilmore Quay on Saturday 26 and Sunday, 27 August. The exhibition 'A Maritime…

Kilmore Quay RNLI's all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney

Kilmore Quay RNLI Rescues Three People Stranded on RIB

14th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

On Saturday afternoon, Kilmore Quay RNLI came to the rescue of three people stranded on a RIB off Ballyhealy Beach. The all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney, was launched after the Irish Coast Guard received a call from a concerned member…

The Achill Island RNLI all-weather lifeboat ‘Sam and Ada Moody’

Achill Island RNLI Brave Severe Weather Conditions to Save Unmanned Fishing Trawler

11th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI came to the aid of an unmanned fishing trawler in severe weather conditions on Friday, August 11th, following a call from the Irish Coast Guard. The 36ft trawler was moored between Purteen Harbour and Inishgalloon at Achill…

Bangor RNLI was involved in the rescue of three people from a 28ft yacht

Three Rescued from 28ft Yacht Grounded on Cockle Island by Bangor RNLI

11th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Three people were rescued by the Bangor RNLI lifeboat after their 28ft yacht ran aground on Cockle Island, Groomsport. The incident occurred on Thursday evening, August 10th. The RNLI received a request from Belfast Coastguard to assist with the recovery…

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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