RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Family Whose Great-Grandfather was Recognised for Lifesaving Rescue Pay Tribute to Kilmore Quay RNLI

28th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A Wexford family has expressed thanks to the volunteers of Kilmore Quay RNLI who brought them to safety earlier this summer when their pleasure craft got into difficulty. James Kehoe and his grandchildren Aisling, 13, Emily, 9, and Orla, 7,…

Tramore RNLI’s inshore lifeboat returning to station at Tramore Pier

Tramore Lifeboat Rescues Swimmer In Difficulty

28th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Tramore RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers were tasked to the aid of a female swimmer in difficulty at the Guillamene cove in Co Waterford yesterday afternoon (Sunday 27 September). The inshore lifeboat was lunched at 1.55pm and within eight minutes was at…

Aberdeen’s inshore lifeboat Buoy Woody searches off Aberdeen Beach

Surfers Caught By Current Rescued Off Aberdeen Harbour

27th September 2020 Scottish Waters

Aberdeen’s two RNLI lifeboats launched minutes apart around 9am this morning (Sunday 27 September) to a report of two surfers in danger at the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour in Eastern Scotland. It emerged that the surfers had paddled out beyond…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Anna Livia

Dun Laoghaire RNLI Reminds Coastal Walkers To Be Prepared This Autumn & Winter

27th September 2020 Water Safety

A new video from Dun Laoghaire RNLI explains the importance of checking the weather and tides before going out for a walk along the coast. With Ireland's coastal areas getting a lot quieter as autumn begins and as we head…

Portrush RNLI Lifeboat approaches the teenager

Portrush RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Teenage Boy in Difficulty off Portstewart Head (Video)

26th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI has rescued a teenage boy who got into difficulty while jumping into the sea off rocks at Portstewart Head yesterday afternoon. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard at 2.42 pm following…

Denise Lynch, Ireland's first RNLI lifeboat coxswain

Fenit RNLI Welcomes First Female Lifeboat Coxswain in Ireland

25th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Denise Lynch, a volunteer lifeboat crewmember with Fenit RNLI in Kerry, has been passed out as an RNLI Coxswain. She is currently the only woman to hold the senior position on an operational lifeboat crew in Ireland and is the…

The unmanned yacht was dragging its moorings in Youghal harbour

Youghal RNLI Launch to 19ft Yacht Free of its Mooring

24th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI in East Cork responded to the pagers today to a report of an unmanned yacht dragging its moorings in Youghal harbour. At 4.32 pm the volunteer crew launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat in fresh conditions and strong…

Baltimore RNLI Provides Third Medical Evacuation Within 48 hours

22nd September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out to provide a medical evacuation early yesterday afternoon (Monday, 21 September) from Sherkin Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 2.07 pm, following a request…

The Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) caught fire in Bertraghboy Bay near Roundstone

Clifden RNLI Launch to Fire on Diver's RIB in Roundstone

22nd September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Three divers were rescued by the RNLI Clifden lifeboat yesterday after their rigid inflatable boat (RIB) caught fire in Bertraghboy bay near Roundstone, Co Galway. Shortly before 3 pm yesterday (Monday, Sept 21st) Clifden RNLI launched their Shannon class all-weather…

Swimmer Dies After Getting Into Difficulty Near Youghal

21st September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A man has died after getting into difficulty while swimming of the cast near Youghal last Friday (18 September). Youghal RNLI was called to the scene at Caliso Bay in Co Waterford on Friday afternoon after the man was reported…

Lough Derg RNLI approach the cruiser aground

Lough Derg RNLI Assists Four Adults on a 30-ft Cruiser Aground

21st September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI assisted four adults on a 30-ft cruiser aground at Skehanagh, on eastern, Tipperary shore, of Lough Derg behind Illaunmor. At 5.15 pm this afternoon, Sunday, September 20, as Lough Derg RNLI volunteers were arriving for a training…

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI arrive at the main beach

Three Call-outs in 24 hours for Donegal's Bundoran RNLI

21st September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI was requested to attend three separate incidents between Saturday afternoon and Sunday lunchtime of the past weekend (19th/20th September 2020) Just after 3:30 pm on Saturday afternoon the crew was alerted to three people…

Baltimore RNLI on Two Call Outs Within 14 hours

20th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out twice in 14 hours to provide two separate medical evacuations from Cape Clear Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The first call out happened yesterday evening (Saturday 19 September). The volunteer lifeboat crew…

The new Arabic language water safety posters from the RNLI and Irish Refugee Council

RNLI Reaches Out To Ireland’s Immigrant Communities In New Water Safety Campaign

19th September 2020 Water Safety

The charity that saves lives at sea is reaching out to Ireland’s immigrant communities as part of a new water safety campaign. Arabic is the first language being used by the RNLI in its warnings over the dangers associated with…

Dun Laoghaire's inshore lifeboat at Blackrock

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Save Sea Swimmer at Blackrock

17th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI was requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard at 5:57 pm this evening (Thursday 17 September) after a member of the public reported a swimmer who appeared to be in difficulty off Blackrock The inshore…

Lough Derg RNLI carry out the first of two rescue of the lake

Two Callouts for Lough Derg RNLI Including a Vessel Taking on Water in Rough Weather

13th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Two callouts for Lough Derg RNLI today – the first to two people on a 32ft cruiser aground by the Silver Islands on the Galway shore at the northern end of Lough Derg, and shortly after, a Mayday call to…

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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