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 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.

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.

Displaying items by tag: Docklands Maritime Festival

2nd June 2010

Fun in the Dock This Weekend

The Dublin Docklands Maritime Festival starts this Friday lunchtime, with tall ships, Lifeboat demonstrations, live music, street performance and the Docklands swim all taking place over the long weekend. A full food market will be located on-site, with a children's area to keep the young ones entertained.

New to this year's festival is Bui Bolg from Co. Wexford, who are experts in the field of spectacle and street theatre. Bringing pirates, sea horses and stilt-walking Dublin Bay prawns to the riverside, Bui Bolg offer a combination of originality, impeccable professionalism, a unique sense of humor with just a touch of mischief to add to the magic! Conor Lambert's Custard Pie Puppet Theatre will perform four free puppet shows a day in the chq building to keep the younger visitors amused!

Luas is partnering with the Docklands Maritime Festival and is offering 10,000 free Luas tickets over the June Banking Holiday weekend to those who wish to travel to the seventh annual maritime festival.

Last year, 150,000 visitors came to Docklands to the Festival and this year promises to be even better. Since last year the Luas Red Line has gone into service in the Docklands area with the opening of Luas Docklands (Line C1) at the end of 2009.

Admission to the festival is free for all, and

Music Stage Located on Custom House Quay

	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
1-3pm		The Roaring Forties	The Swinging Bluecats	The Bugle Babes
3.30-5.30pm		Gypsy Jazz Quartet	The Roaring Forties	Soul Purpose
6-8pm	The Bugle Babes (5-7)	Roots and Rye (6-7.30)	Gypsy Jazz Quartet
8-10pm	The Swinging Bluecats (7.30-9.30)	Soul Purpose

Quayside Performance Area Located on Sir John Rogerson's Quay

12.30-12.50pm	Saturday Dublin Shakespeare Festival	Sunday Dublin Shakespeare Festival	Monday
1-1.30pm	Crash Drumming Group	Torann	Torann
2-2.15pm	Tango Ireland	Tango Ireland	Tango Ireland
2.30-3pm			Torann
3-3.15pm			Tango Ireland
3-3.30pm	Crash Drumming Group	Torann	Dublin Shakespeare Festival (3.30 - 3.40)
4-4.15m	Tango Ireland	Tango Ireland	Tango Ireland
4.30-5pm			Torann
5-5.15pm			Tango Ireland
5-5.30pm	Crash Drumming Group	Torann
6-6.30pm	Tango Ireland	Tango Ireland

Free Children's Puppet Show Performances in chq Building

	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
Daily at 1, 2.30, 4 and 5.30pm	Custard Pie Puppet Company	Custard Pie Puppet Company	Custard Pie Puppet Company

Outdoor Song/Dance Shows Located on George's Dock Platform

	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
12pm,2pm and 4pm	NPAS	NPAS
1pm, 3pm and 5pm	McCormack Fay Irish Dancers	Celtic Dance Fusion	McCormack Fay Irish

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Docklands Maritime Festival

RNLI Seek Volunteers for Docklands Festival

The RNLI is delighted to be involved in this year's Maritime Festival. Over 150,000 people will visit Dublin's Docklands over the course of the June bank holiday weekend and we hope to have up to raise awareness of the RNLI and to raise funds for the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards. We are looking for volunteers to help with the RNLI Shop, the Lifeboat Training Simulator and with selling Lifeboat badges.

The festival runs as follows:
Friday 1pm – 10pm
Saturday, 10am – 10pm
Sunday 10am – 8 pm
Monday 10am -6pm.

If you’re around on any of these days and have even a few hours to spare, why not come down and help out?

Please email [email protected] to put your name down or contact Aisling on 01 895 1800

Many thanks in advance for your support

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A Celebration of the River Liffey for Pirates, Admirals and Landlubbers too!

Dublin's thriving Docklands area is the place to be this June Bank Holiday weekend, with the seventh annual Docklands Maritime Festival running from 4th of June to 7th of June 2010. With a record 150,000 visitors at last year's Festival, this year's event takes place on the quays both north and south of the Liffey with attractions for all ages. The river will be a buzz of activity and the tall ship, Jeanie Johnston will welcome visiting tall ships, Artemis, Bessie Ellen, Notre Dame de Rumengol and the Irish naval vessel, L. E. Aoife, giving people the chance to experience first hand what life on the ocean waves is like. Dublin's river tour service, the Liffey River Cruise, will be in operation offering relaxing cruises along the river.

Enjoy imaginative theatrical performances throughout the festival
Alongside the stunning tall ships, there will be plenty of entertainment for all the family including a breathtaking array of street theatre, musical entertainment and amusements all creating a fun carnival atmosphere. New to this year’s festival is Bui Bolg from Co. Wexford, who are experts in the field of spectacle and street theatre. Bringing pirates, sea horses and stilt-walking Dublin Bay prawns to the riverside, Bui Bolg offer a combination of originality, impeccable professionalism, a unique sense of humor with just a touch of mischief to add to the magic!
Conor Lambert’s Custard Pie Puppet Theatre will perform four free puppet shows a day in the chq building to keep the younger visitors amused!

Sing and dance along to funky music acts on two live stages
Music acts on the riverside include the bubblegum American sounds of the Andrews Sisters with The Bugle Babes who will perform on the Friday evening and Monday lunchtime of the festival. Gypsy Jazz Quartet and The Swinging Blue Cats return again this year with their jazzy, jive and swing numbers and will be joined by The Roaring Forties from Cork who will bring their own blend of jazz and swing. Brand new this year is ‘Soul Purpose,’ a six piece band who will deliver some timeless soul and funk music on the quayside, and ‘Roots and Rye’ a Dublin based five piece country and roots band. Tango Ireland will bring the south campshires alive during the festival with free performances of this popular and sophisticated dance from Argentina.

See the brave take to the water and protect or shores
In the water, swimmers from all over Dublin will take part in the annual Docklands Swim, which takes place on Saturday, 5th June during the Docklands Maritime Festival. This challenging 1.1 kilometre swim is organised by the NAC Masters Swimming Club and is the first swim of a series of 30 races over the Summer. The best viewing areas will be from the Sean O’Casey and Samuel Beckett Bridges.
The Coast Guard and RNLI will also be on hand to add to the maritime activity and on Sunday, June 6th the Coast Guard Helicopter will to do a fly over along the Liffey and perform a mock water rescue.

Then fit in time for a of lunch and some shopping
The Festival will also feature the biggest (and best!) outdoor market in the city, with a fabulous selection of crafts, clothing, jewellery, paintings, flowers and plants, as well as the mouth-watering gourmet meats, cheeses and breads.

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