RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Dun Laoghaire’s inshore lifeboat assisting the small rowing boat on Sunday afternoon

Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Crew Assist Rowing Boat On Dalkey Sound

8th June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire RNLI launched the station’s inshore lifeboat to assist two people onboard a small rowing boat on Dalkey Sound yesterday afternoon (Sunday 7 June). The volunteer crew of three immediately launched the lifeboat at 1pm after a report from…

The RS skiff dinghy under tow and RNLI crewman on board

Lone Dinghy Sailor Rescued By Dunmore East RNLI

6th June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat launched today (Saturday, June 6) to a report of a capsized sailing dinghy northeast of Dunmore East harbour. It was unknown at the time how many people were onboard the sailing dinghy. Just before 5 pm,…

Howth RNLI rescued people stranded on rocks

Howth RNLI Rescue 12 People in Separate Call Outs over the June Bank Holiday Weekend

2nd June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched both the all weather lifeboat and the inshore lifeboat in 5 separate call-outs over the bank holiday weekend to rescue 12 people who found themselves in difficulty The RNLI pagers sounded at 6.38pm on Sunday 31st May…

Arklow’s all-weather lifeboat escorts a kayaker to safety

Arklow Lifeboat Launches To Assist Kayakers

1st June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew assisted two kayakers who got into difficulty on a trip to Arklow Bank Wind Park on Saturday afternoon (30 May). The all-weather lifeboat, under coxswain Ned Dillon and crew Brendan Dillon, Geoff Kearnes, Eddie McElheron,…

Bangor lifeboat crew at Helen’s Bay beach

Bangor RNLI Want To Get In Touch With Paddle Board Teen Rescued From Belfast Lough

1st June 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Bangor RNLI is appealing to get in touch with the family of a teenage paddle boarder rescued at the weekend after he was blown out into Belfast Lough. The volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked on Friday afternoon (29 May) after…

The RNLI lineout at Croke Park to promote water safety with the GAA

RNLI & GAA Working to Save Lives at Sea as Lifeboat Callouts Soar

29th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The life-saving partnership between the GAA and the search and rescue charity, the RNLI, is gearing up this bank holiday weekend to help save lives. The two organisations have been working together in communities throughout Ireland to share water safety…

Kilrush Lifeboat Launches To Child Swept Out To Sea On Inflatable Toy

29th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat aided in the rescue of a child swept out to sea on an inflatable lilo. The incident yesterday afternoon (Thursday 28 May) occurred shortly after 3pm off Beal Strand on the Kerry shore of the Shannon…

RNLI Clifden's Atlantic 85 'Joyce King' en-route from Clifden to Renvyle

Clifden RNLI Lifeboats Respond to Child Swept Out to Sea

29th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Both Clifden RNLI lifeboats were launched to reports of a young child that had been swept out to sea on his surfboard while at the beach with his family in Renvyle shortly after 4.30 pm yesterday. The offshore wind conditions…

RNLI lifeboat crews from Skerries and (right) Clogherhead arriving on scene at Mornington Beach

Skerries & Clogherhead Lifeboats Assist Group Stranded On Rocks Off Mornington Beach

26th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI lifeboat crews from Skerries and Clogherhead launched yesterday (Monday 25 May) to retrieve a number of adults and children who had become stranded on rocks near Mornington Beach, east of Drogheda. The lifeboats were launched shortly before 3pm after…

Youghal’s inshore lifeboat launches for the missing person search

Youghal Lifeboat Tasked In Search For Missing Person

25th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI’s volunteer crew were part of a multi-agency operation yesterday evening (Sunday 24 May) to reports of a missing person in Youghal. The inshore lifeboat launched in good weather on a filling tide at 6.04pm a few minutes after…

The team pushed hard to reach Portrush this evening with 360km to go

Round-Ireland Virtual Cyclists Raise Over €7,700 For RNLI As They Eye The Home Stretch

18th May 2020 Youth Sailing

Four Dun Laoghaire-Based 29er sailors have raised more than €7,700 for the RNLI in their virtual cycling challenge. Last weekend, the quartet of Max Goodbody, Nathan van Steenberge, Sam Ledoux and Tim Norwood — along with their coach Thomas Chaix…

File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat William Henry Liddington

Bundoran Lifeboat Called To Incident At Rossnowlagh Beach

18th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI’s lifeboat was called to an incident at Rossnowlagh Beach yesterday morning (Sunday 17 May) after a man reportedly collapsed near the water. Shore crew were also dispatched by road to offer assistance to the ambulance crew on the…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Launches to Assist Speedboat With Engine Failure

17th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Despite the Irish Coast Guard advisory asking members of the public not to go to sea for recreational purposes, Dun Laoghaire RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched on Saturday afternoon (May 16) following a request from the Coast Guard, to assist an 18ft…

The 29er crews were joined by Annalise Murphy on the virtual cycle

Annalise Murphy Joins 29er's Virtual Cycle Round Ireland

13th May 2020 29er

Olympic sailing silver medalist Annalise Murphy joined four Dun Laoghaire-based 29er sailors and their coach in their bid to ‘virtual cycle’ around Ireland in aid of the RNLI. As Afloat reported earlier, Max Goodbody, Nathan van Steenberge, Sam Ledoux and…

Howth RNLI Rescue Man Who Became Stranded While Fishing

13th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat last night (Tuesday 12th May) to reports of a person stranded in a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with engine trouble while fishing off Howth. The RNLI pagers sounded at 7.25 pm after a call…

Skerries RNLI volunteers launching their Atlantic 85 in the early hours of Saturday 9 May

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Three Stranded By Tide

10th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 9 May) to a call for help from three people cut off by the tide near Balbriggan in north Co Dublin. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson launched…

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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