RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The Prince and Princess of Wales meet crew members at RNLI Holyhead

The New Prince and Princess of Wales Visit Holyhead RNLI in First Visit Since Appointment

28th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Holyhead RNLI volunteers were honoured to welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales on Tuesday, during a whistle-stop tour that brought them back to the island they once called home. The Royal couple met lifeboat crew members…

File image of Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Three on Cruiser Adrift in Scariff Bay

26th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday afternoon (25 September), Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to assist three people on a 30ft cruiser reported adrift in Scariff Bay, southeast of Mountshannon Harbour. The inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched at 3.47pm with helm Eleanor Hooker, Owen…

Just over half of fishers interviewed said they do not always wear their PFD at sea

BIM Teams Up with RNLI to Highlight Lifesaving Strategies for Fishers at Sea

23rd September 2022 Fishing

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, has partnered up with the RNLI to deliver a series of one-day Man Overboard experiences aimed at Irish Fishers this autumn. The aim is to highlight the importance of wearing a correctly…

Aran Islands RNLI official opening of shop and Visitor Experience poster

Aran Islands RNLI to Officially Open New ‘Visitor Experience’ and Shop on Inis Mór

23rd September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI’s most westerly shop in Ireland will officially open its doors next Saturday 1 October from 1-4pm on Inis Mór, raising vital lifesaving funds for the charity that saves lives at sea. And the day will also see the…

File image of Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Joanna and Henry Williams

Wicklow Lifeboat Assists Lone Sailor Fouled in Ropes

22nd September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI went to the assistance of a lone sailor on Tuesday morning (20 September) after his vessel got fouled in ropes. The all-weather lifeboat Joanna and Henry Williams slipped its moorings from the south quay at 8.50am following a…

File image of Ballyglass RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Early Morning Callout for Ballyglass Lifeboat to Assist Four Fishermen in Donegal Bay

21st September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballyglass RNLI came to aid of four fishermen in Donegal Bay in the early hours of Wednesday morning (21 September) after their 55ft trawler got into difficulty overnight. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by Malin…

Mr. John Payne (right), presents David Maloney with the RNLI commendation. In doing so, the charity wished to acknowledge his brave actions that night and recognise it as a life saved by an RNLI volunteer

Rosslare Lifeboat Volunteer Presented with RNLI Award for Brave Rescue of a Woman off Stricken Yacht

21st September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Former Rosslare RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, David Maloney has been awarded a Commendation from the Operations Director of the RNLI for his role in a rescue in September 2016, where his actions saved the life of a woman trapped in…

The RNLI Helvick Head Atlantic inshore lifeboat.

Snorkeller Prompts False Alarm with Good Intent at Helvick Head RNLI

21st September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Helvick Head RNLI was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat on Tuesday afternoon, 20 September, following a report that a swimmer was in difficulty off Clonea beach. With calm seas and Force 2-3 south westerly winds, the volunteer crew launched…

Skerries RNLI recovering debris from the sunken razor fishing vessel

Reports of Fisherman in the Water Prompt Skerries Lifeboat Launch on Busy Weekend

20th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI were tasked on Saturday afternoon (17 September) after Dublin Coast Guard received reports from kayakers that a fishing vessel had sunk off Loughshinny in north Co Dublin and a man was in the water. The Atlantic 85 inshore…

Killian O'Kelly talks about the history of the station

Bundoran RNLI Lifesavers Feature in New Series of Saving Lives at Sea Documentary

20th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI volunteer crew at Bundoran will feature in the brand new series of popular BBC Two programme Saving Lives at Sea this week. Featuring footage captured on helmet cameras, the primetime documentary series lets viewers witness rescues through the…

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat is lowered into the water on a call out to assist a broken-down motorboat

Crosshaven RNLI Assist Four People after Engine Failure in Powerboat

17th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Valentia Coast Guard activated the pagers at 9.28 pm on Saturday, 17 Sept, requesting the Crosshaven RNLI crew in Cork Harbour to attend to a disabled 22’ powerboat with two adults and two children on board in Lough Mahon close…

A decision was made to tow the fishing vessel the short distance to Corrán, the nearest and safest pier

Achill Island RNLI Assist Local Fishermen with Engine Difficulties

16th September 2022 Fishing

Achill Island RNLI went to the assistance of two local fishermen whose 21ft fishing vessel was experiencing engine difficulties this morning. The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested by Malin Head Coast Guard to go to the assistance of the two…

Baltimore RNLI were called out to a solo yachtsman

Baltimore RNLI Assist Solo Yachtsman in Difficulty 25 Miles South of the West Cork Coast

15th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat was called out this morning to provide assistance to a yacht with one person on board that got into difficulty 25 miles south of Glandore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 8.35…

Lough Ree RNLI’s crew in training exercise at Athlone’s Shannon Road Bridge

Lough Ree RNLI Assist 133 People in the Last Six Months

14th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Lough Ree RNLI were involved in the rescue of 133 people in 42 different incidents on the lake and River Shannon so far this year. The charity’s volunteers embarked on their first callout of 2022 on…

Arklow RNLI’s volunteers attend the stricken yacht off Arklow’s South Beach

Sailing Vessel Adrift Prompts Launch of Arklow Lifeboat

14th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI launched on Sunday evening (11 September) to assist two people on 39ft yacht which had lost propulsion and was adrift off the Co Wexford town. The volunteer crew made their way to the lifeboat station around 7pm and…

Clogherhead Lifeboat Assists Lone Fisherman in Sunset Rescue

14th September 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew from Clogherhead RNLI in Mid Louth were called to rescue a lone fisherman and his boat in calm conditions as the sun went down on Saturday evening (10 September). The fisherman himself had requested help from 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