RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Baltimore RNLI Assists to Three Onboard 38ft Yacht in Difficulty

30th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide assistance to three people on a yacht in difficulty just before midnight last night (Tuesday 29 June) off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at…

Howth RNLI Rescue Four in Yacht off Lambay Island

30th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI rescued four people in a yacht who were struggling to make it back to safe harbour and drifting with no propulsion. Howth RNLI pagers sounded at 3.10 pm Tuesday to reports of a sailing yacht with four people…

The skipper of the yacht suffered the mast break four days ago and without any sleep since in gusting weather, was mighty glad to be on safe grounds of Courtmacsherry

Lone Sailor Rescued By Courtmacsherry RNLI after Yacht Suffers Broken Mast Plus Steering & Engine Failure After 14 Days at Sea

29th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry All-Weather Trent Class RNLI Lifeboat was called out this morning Tuesday at 9.10 am, to go to the aid of a 32-foot yacht with a lone sailor on board that got into difficulties 15 miles south-west of Courtmacsherry…

The inshore lifeboat crew took the four people from the rocks and transferred them to the all-weather lifeboat which was standing by offshore

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboats in Rescue after Swimmers Go to the Aid of Young Girls on Inflatable

28th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats were launched shortly before 5:30 pm this evening following reports of two swimmers in difficulties on an inflatable toy off the Silver Strand beach south of Wicklow Head. The Inshore lifeboat arrived on scene at 5:38…

Kinsale Lifeboat Launches to Sailor Injured During Sovereign’s Cup

27th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Kinsale RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was launched on Friday afternoon (25 June) to help an injured sailor on a racing yacht competing in the Sovereign’s Cup. Volunteers were paged before 2pm following a report to the Irish Coast Guard that a…

Union Hall RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Christine and Raymond Fielding

New Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Goes on Service at Union Hall RNLI

25th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

A new inshore Atlantic 85 class lifeboat has officially gone on service at Union Hall RNLI in in West Cork. The lifeboat, which arrived at the lifeboat station last week, replaces the last Atlantic 75 in Ireland, Margaret Bench of…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer and crew

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Family of Five on Cruiser in Difficulty

25th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 24 June) to assist a family of five on a 30ft cruiser in difficulty by navigation mark G on the eastern shore of the lough. At 2.20pm the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched…

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Lough Ree RNLI Rescue Six From Listing Cruiser

24th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew this afternoon (Thursday 24 June) brought six people to safety after it responded to a call out to a cruiser that was taking on water and listing badly north of Hare Island. Tasked by…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat on the water Tuesday evening 22 June

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists 12-Person Cruiser Aground on Shoal

23rd June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched to assist 12 people on a 52ft cruiser aground inside the Goat Road at navigation mark E on the eastern shore of Lough Derg. At 6.15pm on Tuesday evening (22 June), Valentia Coast Guard called on…

Union Hall RNLI volunteer Craig Jennings

Training for New Union Hall RNLI Recruit Turns Into Callout as Lifeboat Aids Two on Yacht in Difficulty

23rd June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Union Hall RNLI’s latest volunteer got more than he expected last night (Tuesday 22 June) after the lifeboat crew were called to assist two people on a yacht with mechanical difficulties off Toe Head in West Cork. The lifeboat, helmed…

Portrush RNLI Launches to Reports of Injured Teenager Near Ballintoy Harbour

20th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard yesterday morning (Saturday 19 June) at 11.52am to reports of an injured teenager near Ballintoy. Both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats were requested to launch as…

The yacht was towed to Greystones harbour using the RNLI's new towing equipment

Yacht off Greystones With Fouled Propellor Brought to Safety by Wicklow RNLI

20th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Shortly after 11 pm this Saturday evening, Wicklow RNLI volunteers were assembling at the lifeboat Station following a Coast Guard pager alert. Ten minutes later at 11:13 pm Wicklow RNLI all-weather lifeboat slipped its moorings at the south quay and…

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

Bundoran RNLI Makes Safety Plea Ahead of Summer Months

19th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

As the summer months approach, Bundoran RNLI is calling on everyone looking forward to a boat trip at sea to plan ahead so they can enjoy their day safely. The plea comes after a group of people whose boat had…

Ballyglass RNLI volunteers with Belmullet Tidal Pool Swimmers

Ballyglass RNLI & Belmullet Tidal Pool Swimmers Win Mayday Golden Welly Award

19th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballyglass RNLI and Belmullet Tidal Pool Swimmers in north-west Co Mayo have won a Golden Welly for their recent fundraising efforts for the charity that saves lives at sea. The RNLI award for Best Community Partnership Fundraiser, which is one…

Lough Derg RNLI approaches the cruiser inside the G navigation mark on Thursday afternoon 17 June

Second Cruiser Aground In 24 Hours Prompts Lough Derg Lifeboat Launch

18th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched on Thursday afternoon (17 June) to assist two people on a 28ft cruiser aground inside the G navigation mark, north of Drominagh Point on Lough Derg. The inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer arrived on scene at 12.50pm,…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer approaches the cruiser aground near Terryglass Harbour

Lough Derg Lifeboat Launched to Cruiser Aground at Terryglass Harbour

17th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched on Wednesday evening (16 June) to assist two people on a 32ft cruiser aground by the entrance to Terryglass Harbour, at the northern end of Lough Derg. At 6.48pm the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier set off…

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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