RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Oban RNLI volunteer Dr Colin Wilson is stepping down

Oban Lifeboat Crew Thankful To Long-Serving Member Upon His Retirement

15th July 2020 Scottish Waters

Oban RNLI in western Scotland has expressed sadness at the retirement of Dr Colin Wilson as a volunteer crew member. Dr Wilson has served the RNLI in Oban since 1990, first joining when the station had the Brede class lifeboat…

Baltimore RNLI’s Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat

Support The ‘Race To Raise’ For Baltimore Lifeboat

14th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Two Baltimore women are running a virtual relay race around Ireland for their local lifeboat, after the annual charity walk was cancelled over coronavirus restrictions. Anna Carthy and Odharnait Collins are now on day three their ‘Race to Raise’ in…

For sale: One Seal 22 in aid of the RNLI

Cork Couple Donate Boat to Union Hall RNLI to Raise Funds to Save Lives at Sea

14th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Thanks to the generosity of Ivon and Jane Roberts from Rosscarbery, County Cork, you now can be the next owner as the couple has donated their boat Decade to Union Hall RNLI. Ivon and Jane bought Decade on their tenth…

A towline was established and the yacht with two sailors was brought safely alongside the East pier at Wicklow harbour

Yacht with Two Onboard Brought to Safety by Wicklow RNLI

12th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A 20ft sailing yacht with two people onboard was brought to safety by Wicklow RNLI this afternoon (Sunday 12 July). The inshore lifeboat launched at 11:45 am with Graham Fitzgerald (helm) and crew Alan Goucher and John Stapleton to reports…

File image of Kinsale RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Miss Sally Anne Baggy II

Kinsale Lifeboat Rescues Four On Motor Vessel In Poor Weather

12th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A motorboat with four on board which was overcome by poor weather was towed to safety by Kinsale RNLI volunteers this past week. The inshore lifeboat Miss Sally Anne Baggy II was requested to launch shortly after 11.30am on Wednesday…

Baltimore RNLI at the East Skeam Medevac

Baltimore Lifeboat Crew Rescue Teenage Girl Who Fell Down Blow Hole On East Skeam Island

9th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out to a medical evacuation earlier this evening (Thursday 9 July) after a teenage girl fell nearly 10 metres down a blow hole on East Skeam Island, off the coast of Baltimore in West Cork. The…

Lough Ree RNLI Brings Drifting Motor Cruiser to Safety at Portrunny Harbour

6th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI brought a drifting motor cruiser to safety on Saturday night. At 9.35 pm on Saturday, (4 July) Lough Ree RNLI volunteers were requested by Malin Head Coast Guard to reports of a motor cruiser adrift near Portrunny…

Arranmore RNLI Coxswain Jimmy Early with his son Lee

RNLI’s ‘Launch a Memory’ Campaign to See West of Ireland Lifeboat Remember 10,000 Loved Ones

6th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A new all-weather RNLI lifeboat, which will be permanently based at Clifden in Connemara, will proudly carry the names of up to 10,000 people, placed on it by their loved ones. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, which will be built…

John Killeen, the newly-elected Chairman of Irish Lifeboats, at his home station on the morning of Wednesday July 1st 2020

Galway’s John Killeen Becomes Chairman of Irish Lifeboats

1st July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Dr John Killeen of Galway, noted engineer, businessman, national administrator and sailing enthusiast, has been elected as Chairman of Irish Lifeboats in succession to David Delamer of Howth, with the Galwayman also continuing in his role as a member of…

Lough Derg RNLI Assists Family on Cruiser That Ran Aground

1st July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI assists a family of four on a 32ft cruiser that ran aground by Parker’s Point, on the Tipperary shore. At 5.35 pm today, Wednesday, July 1, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to go to the…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI rescued an angler from Dublin Bay after a fall from the West Pier

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescue Angler From the Sea After Fall From West Pier

30th June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI rescued an angler who had slipped and fallen into the water at Dun Laoghaire’s West Pier today (Tuesday 30 June) The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged following a report made to the Irish Coast Guard that…

Lough Swilly RNLI approach the horse in the water at Murvagh

Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Coax Horse Back to Shore

30th June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch on Monday afternoon to a horse that had bolted into the water off Murvagh beach in County Donegal. The call was made by lifeguards on duty at the beach to Malin Head Coast…

File image of Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Portrush Lifeboat Runs Aground While Assisting Boat In Stormy Conditions

29th June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat ran aground temporarily as it assisted an angling boat in difficulty in the Foyle Estuary yesterday afternoon (Sunday 28 June). The volunteer crew had launched at 3.40pm to reports of a 24ft angling boat in difficulty…

Portaferry’s inshore lifeboat tows a broken down cabin cruiser to a marina berth

Portaferry Lifeboat Launches Twice In Three Days To Reports Of Strangford Lough Breakdowns

28th June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI launched twice in three days to reports of broken down boats in the same area of Strangford Lough. Portaferry’s volunteer crew launched initially on Thursday evening (25 June) at 9.50pm to assist a five-metre cabin cruiser at the…

Skerries RNLI crew after dropping the jet ski at the slipway

Skerries Lifeboat Tows Jet Ski To Safety After Breakdown

27th June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI volunteers towed a jet ski with a man and woman on board to safety after they broke down near Barnageeragh beach in North Co Dublin. Shortly after 5pm yesterday evening (Friday 26 June), the volunteers launched the Atlantic…

Newcastle RNLI tractor assisted the vehicle, which had become bogged in soft sand

Newcastle RNLI Rescue Man Who Trapped His Foot Under Wheel of Vehicle

25th June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

This morning Newcastle RNLI were tasked along with their colleagues from Newcastle and Kilkeel Coastguard to assist a casualty who had trapped his foot under the vehicle with an incoming tide while in the process of trying to launch their…

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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