Celebrating 200 Years of Lifeboats in Courtmacsherry

23rd May 2025

Tom MacSweeney

The Courtmacsherry lifeboat crew. The West Cork village will hold a weekend of celebrations on the June bank holiday to mark the 200th anniversary of the lifeboat in Courtmacsherry

The first lifeboat station, established in the seaside village of Courtmacsherry in 1825, was one of the first to be founded in Ireland. Its crews have been presented with 14 awards for gallantry.

The West Cork village will hold a weekend of celebrations on the June bank holiday to mark the 200th anniversary.

"We have a packed programme for the holiday weekend in Courtmacsherry," says Vincent O'Donovan of the RNLI Station.

"The weekend is dedicated to Lifeboat 200 activities."

It includes the unveiling of a memorial plaque by the Taoiseach and specially composed music to honour the village's lifeboat.

The programme:

Friday, May 30, Courtmacsherry Community Centre at 8 pm. A special Historical Talk and presentation on 200 years of Lifeboats in the village with the author of the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat history “Home from the Sea”, Micheal Hurley who served many years on the lifeboat. Entry is free.

Saturday, May 31, Open day from 2 pm to 5 pm on the All-Weather Shannon Class Lifeboat at the Pier pontoon for guided tours. The Station House will also be open to the public. Other sea and coast rescue services will also be attending. There will also be a display of Model Lifeboats on the Pier. Sea safety talk in the Pier House Bar from 7 to 9 p.m

Sunday, June 1, 1.30 pm. Unveiling of 200th Anniversary Plaque by Taoiseach Micheal Martin, on the Pier. Lifeboat open day from 2 pm to 5 pm for guided tours. The Defence Forces Band will perform on the Pier from 2 pm. A fly-by of the new Coast Guard fixed-wing Rescue Aircraft. Model Lifeboats on the Pier. 6 pm Audio / Visual performance of Courtmacsherry Rhythms in the Sacred Heart Church by the Summer Songbook choir (Courtmacsherry) and Music Matters (Loughrea), plus friends, specially composed for Courtmacsherry Lifeboat by the renowned Maire Ni Dhuibhir, whose father, the late John, was the Lifeboat Hon Secretary from 1962 to 1976. Tickets
€10 from Lislevane Post Office at 023 8840123.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats, West Cork

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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About The Author

Tom MacSweeney

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Tom MacSweeney writes a column for Afloat.ie. He is former RTE Marine Correspondent/Presenter of Seascapes and has a monthly Seascapes Podcast on the Community Radio Network and Podcast services

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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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