RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The solo pilot was taken into the care of the Coastguard teams and lifeboats from RNLI Porthcawl Lifeboat Station

Welsh RNLI Crews Assist as Light Aircraft Ditches into Sea (Video)

13th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer crews from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) were on hand to assist after a light aircraft ditched off the South Wales Coast. The solo pilot was taken into care of the Coastguard teams as lifeboats from RNLI Porthcawl…

Courtown RNLI’s inshore lifeboat with the speedboat under tow on Sunday afternoon 11 June

Courtown Lifeboat Rescues Three After Speedboat Takes on Water

12th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtown RNLI in Co Wexford rescued three people on Sunday afternoon (11 June) after their speedboat started taking on water off Courtown Beach. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at around 3.40pm and it was launched…

File image of Portrush RNLI's all-weather lifeboat

Portrush Lifeboat Rescues Three After Motor Boat Breaks Down Near Ballycastle

11th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI was requested to launch its all-weather lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard at 1.26am on Sunday morning (11 June) following reports of a small motor cruiser with three people onboard that had broken down around a mile off Ballycastle. The…

Tramore RNLI’s inshore lifeboat and crew

Tramore Lifeboat Assists in Rescue of Two Swimmers in Difficulty

10th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Tramore RNLI were involved in the rescue of two swimmers who got into difficulty off Tramore Beach on Friday evening (9 June). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at the request of the Irish Coast Guard…

Portrush Lifeboat Rescues Climber Cut Off by Tide at Benbane Head

10th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard at 8.13pm on Friday evening (9 June) to reports of a person cut off by the tide while climbing around the base of Benbane Head. The all-weather lifeboat and crew under…

RNLB Ger Tigchlearr escorts the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Racing yacht into Arklow

Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Racer Loses Rudder But Rigs Emergency Steering & Makes Arklow Under Own Power, Lifeboat Stands By

9th June 2023 Dun Laoghaire Dingle

Following a pager alert at 5.37 pm on Wednesday, 7 June, the volunteer lifeboat crew made their way to the station and, within minutes of the request, were aboard RNLB Ger Tigchlearr and en route to the reported location some…

The all-weather Trent class lifeboat Ger Tigchlear returns to port with the stricken sailboat under tow

Arklow Lifeboat Launches to Vessel With Lone Sailor in Difficulty

8th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew with Arklow RNLI launched in the early hours of Thursday morning (8 June) to reports of a vessel in difficulty some 10 miles south-east of the Co Wicklow town. In a northeasterly wind with a 1.2-metre…

Two of the lifeboat crew were tasked by the Coast Guard with swimming ashore to clear the area, which allowed the Waterford-based Rescue 117 helicopter to land safely on the beach

Helvick Head RNLI Called to Assist Two Swimmers in Difficulty off Clonea Beach

8th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Helvick Head RNLI was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 7 June) following a report that two swimmers were in difficulty off Clonea beach. With moderate seas and Force 4-5 east/north easterly winds, the volunteer crew launched…

The all-weather lifeboat RNLB Ruth and David Arthur

Wicklow RNLI Bring Three Fishermen to Safety

7th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI brought three fishermen to safety on Wednesday Morning (7th June) after their vessel developed mechanical problems twelve miles northeast of Wicklow Harbour. The all-weather lifeboat RNLB Ruth and David Arthur slipped its mooring at 10.45 am to reports…

Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat Respond to a Mayday Call from Yacht off West Cork Coast

6th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI responded to a mayday call earlier this afternoon. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 2.55pm this afternoon after the Irish Coast Guard picked up a mayday call from a yacht with five people on board…

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

Aran Islands Lifeboat Launches to Two Bank Holiday Medevac Requests

6th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Just two days after their back-to-back medevac shouts, the volunteer crew at Aran Islands RNLI were tasked on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon (5 June) to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard as a person was…

Baltimore RNLI on Two Call Outs Within the Hour in West Cork

5th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was on two shouts within the hour on Sunday evening in West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at approximately 6 pm yesterday evening, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide a…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier en route to the stricken speedboat on Saturday 3 June

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Two on Speedboat With Damaged Propeller

5th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

On Saturday afternoon (3 June), Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch to assist two people on a 15ft speedboat that had suffered damage to one of its propellers and was at anchor three miles south of Terryglass…

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

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

4th June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of the Aran Islands RNLI were asked to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat two minutes after noon on Saturday 3 June after a gentleman visiting the island of Inis Mór for the day became unwell and was…

Baltimore RNLI inshore lifeboat prepares to launch

Baltimore RNLI Assists Sailors on a Yacht Aground on the Ilen River in West Cork

3rd June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out this morning (Saturday, 3 June) to assist sailors after their yacht ran aground on the Ilen River in West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 9.18 am, following a request from…

Castletownbere RNLI all weather lifeboat

Castletownbere RNLI Involved in Rescue of 13 People After 33m Fishing Trawler Runs Gground off Dursey Island

2nd June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI in conjunction with the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 115 helicopter crew from Shannon have rescued 13 people this evening after their 33m fishing trawler ran aground onto rocks off Dursey Island and started to list and roll. The…

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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