RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

File image of Clifden RNLI’s inshore and all-weather lifeboats

Achill Island and Clifden Lifeboats Launch in Multi-Agency Search After Flare Sighting

27th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crews of Clifden and Achill Island RNLI joined with the Cleggan Coast Guard and Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 in a wide-scale search operation late on Monday night (24 August). The call-out came at 10.30pm when members…

Ready to respond — Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat, which was launched to assist an injured swimmer at Wicklow Harbour

Wicklow RNLI Assists Injured Swimmer at Harbour Pontoon

27th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat on Tuesday (25 August) to assist an injured swimmer at Wicklow Harbour. The young man had been injured on a floating pontoon used by swimmers to access the water and was initially tended…

File image of Arklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Arklow Lifeboat Launches to Report of Upturned Dinghy

25th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI was launched on Saturday evening (22 August) to reports of a sighting of an upturned vessel south of Arklow Harbour. A call had been made to the coastguard by a member of the public, who spotted the vessel…

Hooked On Galway – A traditional Galway Hooker sails past the city waterfront, where the Galway Docklands Festival returns on September 20th

Galway Docklands Festival Set for Sunday September 20th

24th August 2026 Maritime Festivals

Galway Docklands Festival has issued an invitation to participate in this year’s event, which takes place on Sunday, September 20th. The event, run by Galway Hooker Sailing Club, takes place from 11 am to 4 pm at Galway Docks, outside…

Remembering Tony – The late Tony McCarth, whose contribution to Lough Ree RNLI has been commemorated with the naming of the Tony McCarth Slipway at Coosan Point

Tony McCarth Slipway Named at Lough Ree RNLI in Tribute to Former Volunteer

24th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI has honoured the late Tony McCarth, a former Lifeboat Operations Manager who played a key role in the development of the station, by naming the slipway at its Coosan Point boathouse in his memory. RNLI volunteers past…

Kilkeel RNLI crew with new Shannon-class lifeboat Bobby Cameron

Kilkeel RNLI Names New Shannon Lifeboat Bobby Cameron

22nd August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

A new Shannon-class lifeboat has been officially named Bobby Cameron at Kilkeel RNLI in County Down in memory of the late brother of its principal donor, Margaret Cameron. The naming ceremony and service of dedication took place at Kilkeel Lifeboat…

Night Tow: Ballycotton RNLI brings a 30ft yacht and its three crew safely into Crosshaven after steering difficulties off Roches Point

Ballycotton RNLI Rescues Three From Yacht Off Roches Point

21st August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballycotton RNLI rescued three people from a 30ft yacht after it suffered steering difficulties off Roches Point on Thursday night, 20 August. The all-weather lifeboat The Austin Lidbury was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard at 9.50 pm after…

Rescue Ready – Bundoran RNLI's inshore lifeboat at sea off the Donegal coast ahead of the station's sixth annual RNLI and Emergency Services Open Day

Emergency Services to Gather for Bundoran RNLI Open Day

21st August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI will bring together emergency services from across the North West for its sixth annual RNLI and Emergency Services Open Day on Sunday, August 30. The free family event will run from 1 pm to 4 pm at Bundoran…

New Helm – Carrybridge RNLI volunteer Matthew Nelson has qualified as an inshore lifeboat helm after completing his five-hour assessment on Upper Lough Erne

Matthew Nelson Qualifies as Carrybridge RNLI Helm

21st August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI volunteer Matthew Nelson has qualified as a helm, allowing him to take command of the station’s inshore lifeboat during training exercises and emergency call-outs on Lough Erne. Nelson completed his five-hour assessment on Wednesday, both ashore at Carrybridge…

Breaking Line — Bundoran RNLI crew reach for the struggling swimmer between breaking swells off Main Beach during Wednesday evening’s rescue. Photo: Danny MacGinty

Bundoran RNLI Rescues Swimmer in 2m Swell off Main Beach

20th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI rescued a swimmer who got into difficulty in challenging sea conditions off Main Beach on Wednesday evening, 19 August. The Irish Coast Guard requested the volunteer lifeboat crew to launch at 4.42 pm after a member of the…

Three Calls – Sligo Bay RNLI volunteers responded to three incidents in four days, assisting vessels in difficulty off Aughris and near Sligo Port

Sligo Bay RNLI Answers Three Calls in Four Days

20th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Sligo Bay RNLI’s volunteer crew launched three times in four days after a pair of incidents off Aughris on Sunday, 16 August, followed by another callout near Sligo Port on Wednesday. The first alert came at 4.17 pm on Sunday…

Jim O’Connor and JP Smith presenting a cheque for €10,000 raised by the Irish aviation community to support Cardigan Bay’s RNLI stations

Irish Pilots Return to Welsh Lifeboat Station With €10,000 Thank-You After Sea Rescue

18th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Two Irish pilots rescued by RNLI crews off the Welsh coast in June recently returned to thank their rescuers, presenting a commemorative clock and a €10,000 donation raised by the Irish aviation community to support their lifesaving work. The pilots…

File image of Lough Derg’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier

Lough Derg Lifeboat Crew Assist Rower Struggling With Fatigue

17th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday afternoon (16 August), Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to assist a rower at Parkers Point who was struggling with fatigue. At 1.55pm, Lough Derg’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh and crew Doireann…

Key Moment – RNLI Assessor Trainer Seán Ginnelly presents James Rattigan with a key to Galway Lifeboat Station after he successfully completed his assessment to qualify as helm

James Rattigan Qualifies as New Galway RNLI Lifeboat Helm

17th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Galway RNLI volunteer James Rattigan has qualified as a lifeboat helm, becoming the station’s first new volunteer to reach the senior command role since 2017. Rattigan joins six other helms at Galway Lifeboat Station and will now take command of…

A night-time recovery at low tide for Lough Swilly RNLI’s Atlantic 85 Davdot late on Wednesday 12 August

Lough Swilly Lifeboat Brings Two to Safety in Back-to-Back Call-Outs

16th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Swilly RNLI’s volunteer crew responded to two separate incidents on Wednesday evening (12 August) after being requested to launch by Malin Head Coast Guard to reports of red flares, and then to a 28ft vessel with two people onboard.…

File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V

Portaferry Lifeboat Crew Rescue Two From Yacht After Mayday Call

16th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew pagers sounded at 4.11pm on Saturday afternoon (15 August) after Belfast Coastguard received a mayday call from a yacht with two people onboard, which had run aground on Rock Angus at the mouth of Strangford Lough.…

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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