#rnli – The RNLI's newest lifeboat station on Lough Ree received its first callout yesterday afternoon just a few days before it officially goes operational.  The call for help was made by a man onboard a barge who had become grounded five miles south of Lanesborough and needed assistance.

Two volunteer lifeboat crewmembers, Róis Ní Dhochartaigh and Jane Walsh, were out on exercise at the time with RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector Tristan Murphy when the Coast Guard raised the alarm and asked the lifeboat crew to respond.  It was the first callout for the new volunteers and enabled them to put their lifeboat training into practice.

A lifeboat crewmember was transferred onboard the casualty vessel and a tow was established to take the vessel off the rocks and out of harms way. It was then transferred to Lanesborough.

RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector Tristan Murphy commented, "While out on training with the volunteers we try and deal with all types of rescue scenarios but the lifeboat crew didn't expect to come across a real life one just yet.  As expected the training took over and the man and his vessel were brought to safety by the lifeboat crew."

The new station has eighteen volunteer crewmembers and will operate an Atlantic 75 lifeboat out of Coosan Point in Athlone.

#RNLI –  On Sunday afternoon, Bangor lifeboat received a request from Belfast Coastguard to launch and rescue a canoeist who was in difficulty off Groomsport.

Relatively calm sea conditions allowed for the Lifeboat to proceed at full speed to the scene which was close to the entrance of Groomsport Harbour

Upon arrival, lifeboat crew spotted a young man standing on an isolated outcrop of rocks with his canoeing companion paddling close by. With tides rising, the young man was plucked to safety by Lifeboat crew.

The young man was taken to the safety of Groomsport Harbour where he was attended to by paramedics.

RNLI volunteer crew man Tim Lee who was involved in this rescue took the opportunity to stress four very important sea safety tips for canoeist going afloat this summer.. He said. 'Always wear a lifejacket, secondly tell others where you are going, thirdly carry some means of calling for help and finally always check the weather and tides' He added 'We are glad that this young man is now safely ashore'.

#RNLI – A yacht with engine difficulties just two miles east of Adams Island near Glandore Harbour, West Cork made a call for assistance as variable wind conditions impeded its progress. The alarm was raised last night at 20:04.

Baltimore lifeboat responded. The Tamar class lifeboat (with a top speed of 25 knots) made good speed to rendezvous with the distressed vessel.

Coxswain Kieran Cotter assessed the situation of the two male yachtsmen on board the 35–foot yacht and decided the best course of action was to tow the yacht into Union Hall 65 minutes away. Having secured the yacht safely the lifeboat returned to Baltimore.

On board the lifeboat were Coxswain Kieran Cotter, Cathal Cottrell, Micheal Cottrell, Jerry Smith, Diarmuid Collins and Brian McSweeney

#RNLI – RNLI Arklow Lifeboat volunteers in County Wicklow are setting off on June 29th to visit every lifeboat station on the Island of Ireland in a single weekend. Vartry Motors KIA Dealers have partnered with Arklow RNLI to provide two KIA Sportage Jeeps for the rund Ireland trip.

#rnli – Eleven swimmers taking part in the annual Triathlon at Mullaghmore in North County Sligo on Saturday morning (16th June 2012) were assisted by the volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat.

The Bundoran Lifeboat William Henry Liddington was on exercise in the area as the event was taking place. The swim event of the triathlon, jointly organised by the Mullaghmore Sailing and Triathlon Clubs, started just after 10.30 in cool conditions with a northerly wind blowing through the picturesque village. By 11.10am the lifeboat crew had assisted 3 swimmers with the number reaching 10 by 11.45am and 11 total by 11.50am. All swimmers were assisted to shore but did not require medical attention.

Martin Caldwell of Mullaghmore Sailing Club said afterwards 'we were delighted the Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat was in the area and were able to assist our own safety boats. We had a capacity field of 500 triathletes taking part and the tough conditions meant more swimmers than usual required assistance. Safety is an absolute priority in an event such as this and having Bundoran RNLI in the bay was a terrific support. The event, which is in its 11th year, is one of the most popular triathlons in the country and it is a showcase for some of the country's top athletes'

#lifeboat – A call for assistance came for a second time yesterday to Baltimore lifeboat when the bleepers went off at 21:55, this time for the all weather lifeboat. The coastguard had issued a request for an immediate medical evacuation from Sherkin Island. In difficult weather conditions Coxswain Kieran Cotter, with mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew Jerry Smith, Ronnie Carthy, Pat Collins, Brian Sweeney and Diarmuid Collins made their across Baltimore Harbour in driving heavy rain and high winds. They stood off Sherkin Island awaiting further instruction from the Coastguard. The medical issues were resolved and the Coastguard informed Baltimore Lifeboat that no further assistance was required. The RNLI Tamar class all weather lifeboat Alan Massey returned to her mooring at 23:00.

Earlier in the afternoon afternoon, with south easterly winds blowing force 7, gusting 8, Baltimore Inshore Lifeboat was launched to assist boats in Baltimore Harbour.

A yacht that broke clear of her mooring was driven across the harbour by the high winds and steep seas, until she went aground on rocks at Sherkin Island. Several local ribs went to the scene to try and tow the yacht to safety. After receiving several calls that the boats were struggling in big seas and strong onshore winds, the decision was quickly made that the lifeboat would launch to make sure that all involved were safe.

The yacht was being towed clear as the lifeboat arrived on scene, and the lifeboat escorted the boats back to Baltimore. A crewman was put aboard the yacht to assist in berthing her alongside the pier at Baltimore. The lifeboat was recovered from the water and made ready for service again by 1410hrs, the crew on the callout were Helm Youen Jacob, Tadhg Collins and Mícheál Cottrell.

#RNLI – A Donaghadee RNLI Coxswain and a Kilmore Quay Mechanic were involved in Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant at the weekend.

Donaghadee RNLI Coxswain Philip McNamara from County Down and Kilmore Quay Mechanic Brian Kehoe from County Wexford were aboard the charity's newest all-weather lifeboat at Sunday's Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant in London. Philip  and Brian were joined at the event by seven other RNLI lifeboat crew from other divisions.

The charity's latest £2.7M (€3M) Tamar-class lifeboat Diamond Jubilee on which Philip and Brian were aboard, will be stationed at Eastbourne Lifeboat Station. The lifeboat is expected to be placed on station in Eastbourne and ready for active service towards the end of June.

#RNLI– Ballycotton ifeboat, launched at 12:40 today in response to a call for help from a boat 23 miles south east of Ballycotton. The vessel with four persons on board reported that it was taking water and requested use of a pump. The RNLI lifeboat proceeded to the casualty with a salvage pump to lend assistance. Satisfied that the water intake was under control a tow line was established. The lifeboat proceeded to tow the boat slowly back to Ballycotton. They are due into Ballycotton at approx. 19:30 this evening.

#RESCUE - Brave volunteers from the Baltimore RNLI saved the day when they jumped aboard a runaway speedboat heading for a busy pier last Friday.

As the Irish Examiner reports, it was one of four dramatic rescues made by the West Cork lifeboat crew in a single 24-hour period.

Pat Collins and Tadhg Collins were the plucky duo who attempted the daring feat from their inflatable boarding boat launched from the all-weather lifeboat.

They manoeuvred their boat close enough to the runaway RIB - which was circling at speeds of up to 20 knots ever closer to the pier after its pilot and passenger were thrown overboard - to allow Tadgh to leap on board and turn down the engines.

The RIB's crew were unharmed in the incident, swimming away and finding shelter on a ketch anchored at Sherkin Island.

Baltimore's busy 24 hours continued with call-outs from three yachts during Saturday's force 7 easterly winds.

The Irish Examiner has more on the story HERE.

#RESCUE - Two divers reported missing in Dublin Bay this morning have been rescued by the RNLI lifeboat from Dun Laoghaire.

The pair had been with a group diving off the Muglins Rock, close to Dalkey Island, but did not return to the surface as planned around 11.30am on Sunday 27 May.

The dive-boat coxswain alerted the Irish Coast Guard's Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin which requested the RNLI all-eather lifeboat launch to assist.

Also responding were the Naval Service vessel LE Aoife, the Irish Coast Guard's rescue helicopter from Dublin Airport and the Dun Laoghaire coastguard unit.

Some 30 minutes after the initial call, the lifeboat spotted the two casualties together on the surface. The divers had been swept a mile-and-a-half north of the original dive site by the incoming tide.

One of the lifeboat crew entered the water to assist with their equipment and air tanks before both were taken on board the lifeboat and brought to shore. Neither was injured in the incident.

"This incident could easily have been a tragedy," said Stephen Wynne, RNLI lifeboat operations manager at Dun Laoghaire. "Fortunately the correct procedure was followed in raising the alarm early enough."