RNLI Salutes 45 Volunteers at Awards Ceremony

28th May 2012

#RNLI – The annual RNLI Ireland awards took place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin, with volunteers and supporters being recognised for their role in raising funds and awareness for the charity that saves lives at sea. Guest of honour was RTE's Bryan Dobson, who spoke of his admiration for the RNLI and handed out awards to forty-five volunteers.

Awardees came from all over Ireland and were recognised for their service to the RNLI through fundraising and support for the lifeboat crews at station level. The ceremony is held annually to honour their commitment and to thank them for their tireless work and dedication to the charity. One special award was given to the community of Inishbofin for years of support for the charity. They beat communities from all over the UK and Ireland to receive the specially commissioned bronzed RNLI Supporter Award.

RNLI Irish Council member Peter Crowley presided over the awards and thanked the volunteers for their continued support. Speaking during the ceremony he said, "This ceremony is about honouring our volunteers. The awards that are being given are a small token of the thanks of the Institution for years of service and support to a charity that has always had at its heart one aim; to save lives at sea. I wish to thank all the awardees for their unfailing support and dedication in continuing to raise funds and to support our volunteer crews."

Guest of honour Bryan Dobson added, "When the worse come to the worst at sea, behind us always stands the men and women of the RNLI. There would be no lifeboats or lifeboat crews without the fundraisers and station volunteers. You all make a difference."

Awardees on the day were from RNLI branches and stations throughout Ireland including Dublin, Cork, Donegal, Waterford, Wexford, Meath, Kerry, Sligo, Wicklow, Louth, Mayo, Galway and Monaghan.

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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

How can one support the RNLI?

While the RNLI is dependent on donations and legacies for funding, they also need volunteer crew and fund-raisers.

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