#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched shortly after 5.30pm yesterday evening (Sunday 25 January) to investigate a reported floating object drifting near the shore opposite the Murrough Carpark.

The lifeboat was on scene three minutes after launching and began an immediate sweep of the area. With light fading, the all-weather lifeboat also launched to assist using searchlights.

Shortly after 6.10pm, while searching the bay, the lifeboat volunteers responded to a second incident, this time south of Wicklow Head.

Members of the public walking on Magheramore Beach contacted the Irish Coast Guard to report a flashing light on rocks near the beach, concerned it might be a person in difficulties.

Both lifeboats immediately proceeded south, and once on scene the crews began a coastal sweep, using parachute flares to illuminate the search area.

The inshore crew located and made contact with two men fishing on rocks a short time later. They were in no danger and did not require assistance.

At 6.40pm, both lifeboats were stood down by the coastguard and returned to station.

The all-weather lifeboat crew were coxswain Nick Keogh, nechanic Tommy Murphy, Ciaran Doyle, Tommy McAulay, Kevin Rahill, Carol Flahive, John Vize and Paul Sillery. The inshore lifeboat crew were helm Vinny Mulvihill, Graham Fitzgerald and Brian Sinnott.

#RNLI - Howth RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched at 5.30am yesterday morning (Sunday 25 January) to reports of man in the water in Howth Harbour.

The lifeboat crew launched in minutes after a passer-by raised the alarm, locating the casualty just off the middle pier. Weather conditions were good and visibility in the harbour area was excellent.

The casualty was rescued from the water, given oxygen and treated for hypothermia en route back to shore, before he was transferred to hospital by a waiting ambulance.

Howth RNLI helm Ian Martin said: "We were pleased to have been able to respond and launch so quickly, using our training to recover the casualty from the water and ultimately save a life in the early hours this morning."

#RNLI - Lough Derg RNLI launched in severe weather conditions to assist two canoeists in difficulty on the lough yesterday (Friday 9 January).

And on returning to station, the lifeboat launched again following a report from a distressed member of public that his horse might have strayed close to the Nenagh River and be in difficulty.

Following a request from Valentia Coast Guard, Lough Derg RNLI launched initially at 3pm after a member of the public raised the alarm upon sighting an upturned canoe between Holy Island and Mountshannon.

In addition the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 was deployed from its base at Shannon, while the coastguard lifeboat based at Killaloe was also launched and an ambulance was requested to attend.

En route to the search area, the volunteer lifeboat crew – including helm Peter Clarke, Jason Freeman and Dean O'Sullivan – were informed that they were to search for two people at the scene. Weather conditions were poor, with winds west-southwest Force 7.

Once the lifeboat arrived on scene, the crew was informed that the two people in difficulty had managed to get to land on Holy Island. 

Rescue 115's crew were able to land to recover the two casualties and take them to Limerick Hospital for treatment, as they were reported to be presenting symptoms of hypothermia.

The lifeboat then returned to base at 4.04pm, and as the volunteer crew were readying the lifeboat, a distressed member of the public requested assistance as he believed his horse might have strayed into the Nenagh River.

The crew launched to investigate, but did not locate the horse either in or on the bank of the river. 

Speaking following the callouts, Brian Hanly, Lough Derg RNLI deputy launching authority, said: "It is crucial the public check the weather forecast before going afloat and remember that the water is very cold at this time of year."

Hanly also commended the RNLI volunteer crew for their speedy and professional response to the callout in what were testing conditions.

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI was requested for the first time in 2015 yesterday morning (Thursday 8 January) following a report of a swimmer in difficulty.

The volunteer crew launched their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson at 11.30am following a call to Dublin Coast Guard from a concerned member of the public about a swimmer in the water off Red Island headland.

The lifeboat, with Joe May at the helm and crewed by David Knight, AJ Hughes and Stephen Crowley, launched and proceeded directly to the area indicated by the coastguard.

Arriving on scene, it was discovered there was a local swimming group ashore after returning from a swim. After speaking to the group, the volunteer crew were assured that everyone was accounted for.

The lifeboat performed a precautionary sweep of the area before being stood down and returning to station.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 was also on scene and carried out a search before returning to base.

Speaking after the callout, Gerry Canning, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, said: "Thankfully in this case our assistance wasn’t required. 

"However, the member of public had good intentions and we would always advise people to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard if they think they see someone in difficulty at sea."

#RNLI - In the first callout of the year for Newcastle RNLI in Co Down, both lifeboats were launched in the early hours of Saturday morning (3 January) following reports of a missing male sighted near the beach close to Down Roads.

The inshore lifeboat crew were paged at 3.08am by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to assist local police and coastguard in their search for the missing man.

The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene within minutes to commence a search of the shoreline from the Shimna river mouth to Dundrum Bar.

In a moderate sea state with some big swells and a northwest Force 4-5 wind, the decision was made at 3.29am to launch the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) to assist with the search.

The ALB lifeboat crew stood by and provided cover as the inshore lifeboat manoeuvred its way through the surf. Both lifeboats used white parachute flares to illuminate the search area in poor weather conditions.

Both lifeboats were stood down at 4.35am and returned to station after the man was safely found on land.

Commenting on the callout, Newcastle RNLI helm Dylan Mooney said: "Thankfully the casualty was found safe and well on shore. It was great to put the new lifeboat through its paces once again.

"It handles well in the surf. We used night vision and the search light to help us see in the darkness."

Newcastle RNLI deputy launching authority Raymond Deery added: "We have a dedicated crew here at Newcastle that respond rapidly to the lifeboat pager no matter what the conditions."

The volunteer lifeboat crew for the inshore lifeboat were Dylan Mooney, Gary Agnew and Aaron Latus and on the all-weather lifeboat were Richard Herron, Alan Jones, Peter Uprichard, Fionnuala Niallais, Declan Barry, Daniel Rooney and Aidan Riley.

Shore crew were Paul Beeks, Brian Leneghan, Nathan Leneghan, Niall McMurray and Robert Latus.

#RNLI - A week after Dun Laoghaire RNLI remembered those who lost their lives at sea, Wicklow RNLI held its annual New Year's Day service of remembrance this past Thursday.

The ceremony began with a short religious prayer conducted by Fr Donal Roche and Rev Ken Rue, who blessed the flowers and wreaths.

After the blessing, coxswain Nick Keogh and the lifeboat crew took the floral tributes out to sea and launched them on the water.

The annual ceremony remembers past RNLI volunteers and all associated with the sea from Wicklow.

#Lifeboats - The RNLI in Ireland has put together this thrilling looking back at its year of rescues in 2014 as their lifeboat crews saw it themselves via helmet- or boat-mounted cameras.

Among the callouts featured here involving inshore and coastal lifeboat crews throughout the island of Ireland are some of the more daring night-time rescues.

But there are also some of the year's more unusual incidents, such as when Tramore RNLI were tasked to bring a stranded bull to safety, or the Wicklow inshore lifeboat's mission to rescue a sheep trapped in a sea cave.

#RNLI - Volunteers at Kilmore Quay RNLI were called upon to go to the aid of an American yacht with three people on board in the early hours of Wednesday 17 December.

The 42-foot yacht, which was on passage from Falmouth in the UK to Crosshaven in Cork, was experiencing difficult conditions.

The crew encountered some damage to their rigging, being forced to alter course and run before the southwest wind that was blowing at Force 6.

The yacht was 12 miles to the south of Kilmore Quay in Co Wexford at 11pm when its crew put in a call to the Irish Coast Guard for help.

Kilmore Quay’s all-weather lifeboat Killarney left the harbour at 11.15pm and was alongside the yacht 35 minutes later.

A tow rope was passed to the yacht and its was towed back to the marina at Kilmore Quay, arriving in at 2.30am.

#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI has rescued a man who got caught out by the tide yesterday afternoon (Monday 22 December).

The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 2.24pm following a report of person in the water on Strangford Lough.

A kayaker who was in upper parts of the lough at the time raised the alarm after he saw a man waist-deep in the water.

The lifeboat launched and headed towards Rainey Island at the north end of Strangford Lough, arriving on scene at 2.50pm, and the crew began a search of the area around Rainey and Sketrick Islands.

When nothing was found, the lifeboat carried on up into Watson Island on Ardmillan Bay, where the crew located the casualty.

The man, who was a wildfowler, had set off walking to the island earlier in the morning when the tide had been out but then got caught out by the rising tide.

It was when he was attempting to return to the mainland that he was spotted by the kayaker waist deep in the water.

With the water getting deeper the man decided to return to the island for his own safety, where he was waiting when the lifeboat located him.

In what is a muddy area that can be dangerous, the Portaferry crew carefully manoeuvred in shallow water to get to the man and bring him on board the lifeboat.

The casualty, who was cold and fatigued but who didn’t require any further medical attention, was then transported to Ballydorn.

Speaking following the callout, Portaferry RNLI lifeboat operations manager Brian Baille commended the kayaker who had raised the alarm.

"The kayaker spotted the casualty, raised the alarm and then stayed with the man until the lifeboat arrived on scene and brought him to safety. Had the alarm been raised later it would have been much trickier to locate the casualty in the dark.

"We would remind anyone planning to go out on the lough to be mindful of the weather and tide times."

#RNLI - In what was a first for the RNLI Reindeer Run, there was a marriage proposal at last Sunday’s (30 November) event in Marlay Park to raise funds for Ireland's lifeboat service.

Conor Hayes, a native of Tipperary, chose the festive occasion to get down on one knee and ask girlfriend Edel Higgins from Sligo to marry him.

The couple, who met and work in Dublin, are regular runners.

"This was our first RNLI run but it definitely won't be our last," said Hayes said after a delighted Higgins said yes.

"We have no plans for the wedding yet. We are just enjoying the celebrations at the moment."