RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The Arklow RNLI crew awardees recognised for their rescue of the yacht Jest

Arklow RNLI Lifeboat Crew Recognised for Challenging Service to Yacht with Three Crew Onboard

4th February 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Seven members of Arklow RNLI have been honoured for their roles in a challenging and exhausting service, almost seven hours in duration, which saw a crew of three people, onboard a nine-metre yacht rescued. For his exceptional display of seamanship…

Maxine Strain and the Swim Smooth Ireland Squad making their donation to Wicklow RNLI on Sunday 29 January

Swimming Group Raises More Than €10k for Wicklow RNLI

2nd February 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Flying Fifteen sailor John MacAree was part of a major fundraising effort in aid of Wicklow RNLI by the members of Swim Smooth Ireland, who presented a cheque for more than €10,000 at the weekend. The swimming club’s big charity…

Skerries RNLI towing the fishing boat as Howth RNLI stands by on Tuesday afternoon 31 January

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Two Men on Fishing Boat After Breakdown at Rockabill Lighthouse

2nd February 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI towed a razor-clam fishing boat with two men on board to safety on Tuesday afternoon (31 January) after they suffered mechanical failure near Rockabill lighthouse. The volunteers in Skerries launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson shortly…

There will be a ‘Wild West’ entertainment-filled evening at the Blackbird, Ballycotton on Friday 3rd February to support the local RNLI station

Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat Goes Country with Wild West Themed Fundraiser

31st January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The Ballycotton RNLI fundraising calendar 2023 kicks off in style with a ‘Wild West’ entertainment-filled evening at the Blackbird, Ballycotton on Friday 3rd February from 7.30 pm until late. Dust off your cowboy hat and pull on your dancing boots…

Swimmers embark at 2017 swim event at Dunmore East, Dunmore East RNLI Shannon Class Lifeboat ‘William & Agnes Wray”

Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim Returns in May

31st January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

This year will see the welcome return of the annual Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim in County Waterford, which will take place on Sunday, 28th May 2023. Hundreds of swimmers will be taking to the water starting from the…

River Liffey All in a Row organiser Dave Kelly with the IUSRU at the prizegiving at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club

Fifty Skiffs, River Outriggers, Kayaks, Canoes, Dragon Boats and Currachs Smash 1,000km Target to Eaise €20,000 for RNLI Lifeboats and the Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Unit

31st January 2023 River Liffey

The All In A Row Liffey Challenge was held in early December on the capital’s River Liffey with the challenge for the rowers to smash a 1,000km target in eight hours. Fifty skiffs, kayaks, canoes, dragon boats and currachs were…

The volunteer Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI crew launched the inshore lifeboat within 10 minutes of receiving the call and arrived at the scene at Sandymount by 3.20 pm

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescues Sandymount Dog Walker from Incoming Tide

30th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI lifeboat rescued a woman and her dog who became cut off from the shore by the incoming tide on Sunday afternoon (29 January) at Sandymount Strand on Dublin Bay. The volunteer crew were alerted shortly after…

Crosshaven RNLI went to the aid of a fisherman who became ill on board a Portuguese crewed 12M fishing vessel off Cork Harbour

Crosshaven RNLI in Late Night Medevac of ill Crewman from Fishing Vessel

29th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

On Saturday, 28 January, Valentia Marine Rescue Sub Centre activated the pagers of Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat volunteers in Cork Harbour to assist with a medical evacuation. A fisherman became ill on board the Portuguese crewed 12M fishing vessel and required…

‘Sample Our Soup’ Returns to Shop Street to Raise Funds for Galway RNLI

26th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Following a two-year break due to the pandemic, Galway RNLI’s Sample Our Soup fundraiser will return to the streets of Galway on Saturday 11 February. The fundraiser — which sees proceeds raised go towards powering the lifesaving work of the…

Larne RNLI coxswain Frank Healy accepting a cheque for more than £3,000 from NFU Mutual agent Richard Lee

Local Insurer’s Support for Larne RNLI Helps Build Community Resilience

26th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

NFU Mutual agents and staff in East Antrim recently nominated Larne RNLI to receive a donation of more than £3,000 from its national £1.92m Agency Giving Fund. The leading rural insurer has launched this fund, now in its third year,…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour's all-weather lifeboat

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Carry Out Medical Evacuation in Dublin Bay

25th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI lifeboat performed a medical evacuation in Dublin Bay last night after a man took ill onboard a ship. The all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 8.50 pm by the Irish Coast Guard. The lifeboat launched…

The Achill Island RNLI Lifeboat 'Sam and Ada Moody'

Achill Island RNLI Medically Evacuate Man from Clare Island in Lifeboat's First Call Out of 2023

24th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI went to the assistance of a man on Clare Island off the coast of County Mayo, requiring medical evacuation on Monday, 23 January. The request from the Irish Coast Guard was the first call out for the…

Courtmacherry welcomes the new RNLI Shannon Class Lifeboat to West Cork

Courtmacsherry Crowd Welcomes New RNLI Shannon Class Lifeboat to West Cork (Photo Gallery Here!)

23rd January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The message, "She is coming over the bar" came over the tannoy, and suddenly, the crowd in the West Cork village of Courtmacsherry swelled to bursting. Despite the inclement January weather, every vantage point was taken up on the street,…

The Crosshaven RNLI (left) rendezvous with the new Courtmacsherry lifeboat to escort her into Crosshaven

Courtmacsherry’s New Lifeboat Arrives into Cork Harbour Ahead of Today's West Cork Welcome for 'Val Adnams' Shannon Class

21st January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry’s new lifeboat which is scheduled to arrive home at the West Cork harbour this Sunday, January, 22nd was welcomed into Cork Harbour hours earlier on her delivery voyage home from Poole in Dorset. The new Shannon Class lifeboat arrived in Crosshaven…

A commemorative plaque for those lost in the 1873 lifeboat tragedy stands at Holmpatrick Cemetery in Skerries

150th Anniversary of Lifeboat Tragedy Will Be Remembered by Skerries RNLI at Ceremony Next Month

21st January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday 5 February, RNLI volunteers past and present will gather at Skerries lifeboat station in north Co Dublin to lay a wreath at sea and remember six of their colleagues who were lost while on a service in 1873.…

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

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Three on Speedboat Adrift Near Portumna

20th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was called out on Thursday evening (19 January) to assist three people on a 16ft speedboat adrift at the most northern part of the lake near Portumna. Valentia Coast Guard requested the launch following reports…

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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