RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Beach Rescue — Onlookers and RNLI volunteers watch from Clogherhead beach as the Shannon class lifeboat launches to assist a fishing vessel taking on water just offshore.

Clogherhead RNLI Saves Sinking Fishing Boat Near Shore

7th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Clogherhead RNLI came to the aid of a fishing trawler that was taking on water just half a nautical mile east of the station's boathouse on Wednesday afternoon. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Michael O'Brien launched at 3.15 pm with…

Family Challenge — Arranmore's Team Trasna na dTonnta, from left: Evan, Glenn and Sharon, will row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in the World's Toughest Row to raise funds for the RNLI.

Arranmore Family Rows Atlantic to Support RNLI Volunteers

7th August 2026 Coastal Rowing

A mother and her two sons from Arranmore Island are preparing to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for the RNLI. Team Trasna na dTonnta, made up of Sharon and her sons Evan and Glenn, will…

Milestone Moment — Aran Islands RNLI volunteers, former crew members, emergency services and supporters gather alongside the Severn class lifeboat David Kirkaldy after its landmark 1,000th launch.

Aran Islands RNLI Marks 1,000th Severn Lifeboat Launch

6th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

The Aran Islands RNLI has celebrated a major milestone after its Severn class lifeboat David Kirkaldy completed its 1,000th launch. The volunteer crew was tasked on Tuesday evening (4th of August) to carry out a medical evacuation from Inis Mór.…

Tramore RNLI’s inshore lifeboat approaches the Doneraile cliffs

Tramore Lifeboat Crew Rescue Person in Difficulty on Sea Cliffs

6th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Tramore RNLI launched on Wednesday morning (5 August) at the request of the Irish Coast Guard after beach lifeguards reported a person in difficulty on the Doneraile cliffs close to high tide. Helm Fergal McGrath, along with crew members Conor…

Visitors peruse the various stalls set up at the lifeboat station for Arklow RNLI’s Open Day on Sunday 2 August

Arklow RNLI Thanks Community After Successful Open Day Marking 200th Anniversary

6th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI has thanked everyone who attended its Open Day on Sunday (2 August) after large crowds visited the lifeboat station to help celebrate the charity’s 200 years of lifesaving service in the town. The family friendly event saw visitors…

Kilkeel RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat on exercise

Kilkeel Lifeboat Rescues Two From Speedboat Stranded on Carlingford Lough

6th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew with Kilkeel RNLI launched their Shannon class lifeboat this past weekend to come to the aid of two people left stranded when their small speedboat broke down in a busy shipping channel on Carlingford Lough. The alarm was…

File image of Portaferry RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V at launch

Portaferry Lifeboat Launches to Assist Lone Sailor During Station’s Open Day

5th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI crew pagers sounded shortly before noon on Saturday (1 August) after a pan-pan signal was received from a lone sailor onboard a 6m yacht in the Irish Sea off Portavogie, on Northern Ireland’s Co Down coast. The Atlantic…

Larne RNLI’s inshore Lifeboat Terry travelling towards Browns Bay on Saturday afternoon 1 August

Larne Lifeboat Crew Rescues Two After Jet Skis Break Down

5th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI came to the aid of two people onboard two jet skis that had broken down at Browns Bay on Saturday (1 August). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat Terry at 2.24pm at…

File image of Kilrush RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat

Kilrush Lifeboat Assists Six Across Three Bank Holiday Weekend Call-Outs on Shannon Estuary

4th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilrush RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew launched three times over the August Bank Holiday weekend, assisting six people after three separate vessels suffered mechanical failure and were left adrift on the Shannon Estuary. Volunteers were first requested to launch their inshore…

Lough Swilly RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat at sea

Water Safety Bodies Urge Vigilance Over August Bank Holiday Weekend

30th July 2026 Water Safety

Water Safety Ireland, the Irish Coast Guard and RNLI are urging swimmers, visitors and holidaymakers to take extra care around the coast this August Bank Holiday weekend and to familiarise themselves with local conditions before entering the water. As many…

Carrybridge Lifeboat Station is celebrating the success of Ronnie Heslop and Eamonn McManus on their recent navigator pass-outs

Carrybridge RNLI Celebrates Two Successful Navigator Pass-Outs

30th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge Lifeboat Station in Northern Ireland is celebrating the success of two of its volunteer crew members, Ronnie Heslop and Eamonn McManus, on their recent navigator pass-outs. These were conducted by coastal lifeboat trainer Sean Ginnelly, who had travelled up…

A busy quayside at Arklow Harbour during Arklow RNLI’s 2025 Open Day

Arklow RNLI to Celebrate 200 Years of Lifesaving With Open Day This Sunday

30th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI is inviting the local community and visitors alike to join its celebrations as the lifeboat station marks 200 years of saving lives at sea with a special Open Day this Sunday 2 August, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.…

Rapid Response – Clogherhead RNLI's all-weather lifeboat prepares for launch during a multi-agency emergency response at Port Beach, Co Louth, where three swimmers reached shore before the crew was stood down.

Clogherhead RNLI On Standby After Swimmers Rescued

29th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Clogherhead RNLI was placed on standby during a multi-agency emergency response after three swimmers got into difficulty at Port Beach, Lurganboy, County Louth, on Tuesday afternoon. Two swimmers were airlifted to hospital after ingesting a significant amount of seawater. The…

Tow Time – Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Bridie O'Shea. The volunteer crew towed a disabled 11-metre boat with three people aboard safely back to Wicklow Harbour after an overnight call-out.

Wicklow RNLI Tows Disabled Boat to Safety Overnight

28th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Three people were brought safely ashore after their 11-metre boat suffered engine failure 11 miles south-east of Wicklow Harbour late on Sunday night. Wicklow RNLI launched its all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O'Shea at 11.05pm following a request from the Irish…

Tow Time — Kilmore Quay RNLI's Tamar class lifeboat RNLB Killarney tows a disabled 9m motorboat with five people aboard back to Kilmore Quay after engine failure near the Saltee Islands.

Kilmore Quay RNLI Tows Disabled Boat From Saltee Islands

27th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Five people were brought safely back to shore after their 9m motorboat suffered engine failure near the Saltee Islands on Monday afternoon. Kilmore Quay RNLI launched its all-weather Tamar class lifeboat after the Irish Coast Guard requested assistance at 1.54pm.…

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

Portaferry Lifeboat Crew Rescue Father and Son From Strangford Lough Island

27th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew launched at 10.50am on Saturday morning (25 July) at the request of Belfast Coastguard to assist two paddleboarders stranded on Salt Island, to the south of Strangford Lough on the East Down coast of Northern Ireland.…

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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