RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Heather Kennedy officially took up the Lifeboat Operations Manager position at Portaferry on 12 October 2023

Former Portaferry RNLI Crew Member Heather Kennedy is New Lifeboat Operations Manager

6th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A former lifeboat crew member who joined the volunteer team at Portaferry RNLI on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland in 1980 when she was just 17 has recently returned to her hometown, where she has now taken up the reins…

Skerries RNLI bringing the father-and-son kitesurfers to safety on Friday afternoon 3 November

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Father-and-Son Kitesurfers

4th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI rescued two men, a father and son, who had got into difficulty in the water while kitesurfing on Friday afternoon (3 November). The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched by the volunteers in Skerries shortly before…

Baltimore RNLI Provides Second Medical Evacuation in Two Days from Cape Clear Island

29th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A resident of Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork was evacuated for medical assistance following an accident on Sunday. Baltimore RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew received a call at 12.39 pm and launched their all-weather lifeboat to provide…

File image of Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat The Alan Massey

Baltimore Lifeboat Called for Medevac From Cape Clear Island

28th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide a medical evacuation on Friday morning (28 October) from Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat The Alan Massey at 10.44am following a…

File image of Clifden RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Clifden Lifeboat Rescues Three Walkers Cut Off by Tide at Omey Island

25th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI’s volunteer crew were tasked by the Irish Coast Guard at 1.45pm on Tuesday (26 October) following a report that three people were stranded on Omey Island. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was launched by volunteer helm Kenny Flaherty…

File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Two Cut Off by Tide at Rough Island

23rd October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI came to the aid of two people on Saturday evening (21 October) after they got cut off by the tide at Rough Island at the northern end of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. The volunteer crew were requested…

Mark Hudson in cycling gear by the seaside

RNLI’s 200 Voices Podcast Shares Story of How Lusitania Disaster’s Youngest Survivor Sparked a Family’s Lifesaving Legacy

20th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI’s 200 Voices podcast talks to Mark Hudson — grandson of Audrey Lawson Johnston, the youngest survivor of the Lusitania disaster — on his family’s remarkable story that ignited a life-long passion and commitment to helping save lives at…

File image of Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Aran Islands Lifeboat Responds to Back-to-Back Medevacs From Inis Mór

19th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s volunteer crew responded to two medical evacuation requests on Wednesday night (18 October). Pagers were first activated at 7.10pm following a report that a patient on Inis Mór was in need of further medical attention. The all-weather lifeboat…

A broken down motorboat and Howth Inshore Lifeboat at Howth harbour on Sunday, 28 May

Machine Failure is Common Cause for Lifeboat Calls - RNLI

17th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Machinery failure in motorboats is the most common cause of lifeboat call-outs. So says the RNLI in the Autumn edition of its magazine – Offshore – which focuses on engine failure – how to prevent a small niggle from becoming…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI inshore lifeboat Joval launches to the swimmer in difficulty

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescues Swimmer in Difficulty at the 40 Foot Bathing Area on Dublin Bay

16th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI rescued a swimmer who got into difficulty at The Forty Foot bathing area yesterday (Sunday 15 October). The volunteer crew were requested to assist the swimmer after she got caught in a current and was drifting…

Clogherhead RNLI all-weather Shannon class lifeboat

RNLI Volunteers Rescue Drifting Leisure Craft 19 Nautical Miles East of Clogherhead

14th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

In an early morning sea rescue, volunteers from the Clogherhead RNLI were called upon to come to the aid of a drifting 42 ft leisure craft. The Coast Guard requested assistance on Friday, 13 October, after the vessel experienced fuel…

Lifeboat operation manager Willie Murphy helps serve a fish supper at The Strand Bar on Friday 6 October

Sligo Bay RNLI Catch a Big One as Popular Annual Seafood Night Raises More Than €6,500

11th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Sligo Bay RNLI served up another fish supper last Friday (6 October) to 200 guests at The Strand Bar in Strandhill. The seafood night raised an amazing €6,587, all of which will go towards training and…

Arklow RNLI’s all-weather Lifeboat returning to station on Sunday 8 October

Arklow Lifeboat Launches to Reports of Swimmers in Difficulty

9th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI launched on Sunday (8 October) at around 11am following a pager alert by the Irish Coast Guard reporting swimmers in difficulty at the Co Wicklow town’s South Beach. The volunteer crew made their way to the lifeboat station…

Frank Healy, Sam Agnew and Jack Healy from Larne RNLI

Larne RNLI Lifesavers Feature in New Series of BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea

5th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew from Larne RNLI in Northern Ireland will feature in the new series of popular TV show Saving Lives at Sea on BBC Two at 8pm next Thursday 12 October. Featuring footage captured on helmet and boat…

File image of Larne RNLI’s inshore and all-weather lifeboats in the water

Larne Lifeboats Called Out to Swimmer in Difficulty Outside Portmuck Harbour

4th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI came to the aid of a swimmer who got into difficulty half a mile from Portmuck Harbour on Wednesday afternoon (4 October). The station’s volunteers were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats…

Former president Mary McAleese was born in Belfast, grew up on the shores of Carlingford Lough and now lives close to a lake in the west of Ireland

Former President Mary McAleese Recalls RNLI Connections in Bicentenary Podcast Series

4th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Former president Mary McAleese recalls her close family connections with the lifeboat service in the latest episode of the RNLI “200 Voices” series. McAleese was born in Belfast, grew up on the shores of Carlingford Lough and now lives close…

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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