RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat William Henry Liddington

Bundoran Lifeboat Called To Incident At Rossnowlagh Beach

18th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI’s lifeboat was called to an incident at Rossnowlagh Beach yesterday morning (Sunday 17 May) after a man reportedly collapsed near the water. Shore crew were also dispatched by road to offer assistance to the ambulance crew on the…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Launches to Assist Speedboat With Engine Failure

17th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Despite the Irish Coast Guard advisory asking members of the public not to go to sea for recreational purposes, Dun Laoghaire RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched on Saturday afternoon (May 16) following a request from the Coast Guard, to assist an 18ft…

The 29er crews were joined by Annalise Murphy on the virtual cycle

Annalise Murphy Joins 29er's Virtual Cycle Round Ireland

13th May 2020 29er

Olympic sailing silver medalist Annalise Murphy joined four Dun Laoghaire-based 29er sailors and their coach in their bid to ‘virtual cycle’ around Ireland in aid of the RNLI. As Afloat reported earlier, Max Goodbody, Nathan van Steenberge, Sam Ledoux and…

Howth RNLI Rescue Man Who Became Stranded While Fishing

13th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat last night (Tuesday 12th May) to reports of a person stranded in a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with engine trouble while fishing off Howth. The RNLI pagers sounded at 7.25 pm after a call…

Skerries RNLI volunteers launching their Atlantic 85 in the early hours of Saturday 9 May

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Three Stranded By Tide

10th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 9 May) to a call for help from three people cut off by the tide near Balbriggan in north Co Dublin. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson launched…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Involved in Multi-Agency Search off Sandymount Strand

8th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers from Dun Laoghaire Harbour's RNLI station were involved in a two-hour search operation off the coast of Sandymount Strand last night (7 May), after receiving reports that a person was thought to be seen cut off by the tide…

Donaghadee RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Saxon

Donaghadee Lifeboat Launches To Kayakers Reported In Distress

7th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Donaghadee RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 6 May) after reports of three kayakers in difficulty off Cloughey in Co Down. Following Covid-19 protocols, the volunteers of lifeboat Saxon made full speed to the location. However, en…

Portaferry RNLI Launch to Person Clinging to Small Dinghy

7th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Yesterday, Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew were requested to launch at 1225 to reports of a person in the water clinging to a small craft at Greyabbey Bay on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. Greyabbey is a small village about 11…

RNLI Plans Reduced Lifeguard Service This Summer due to Coronavirus Outbreak Challenges

6th May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Despite the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) hopes to provide a lifeguard service on around 30% of the beaches the charity usually covers this summer, if government guidance allows. The rollout of the normal…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI Rescue Two Kayakers in Difficulty off Dalkey Island

1st May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire RNLI came to the aid of two people who got into difficulty on a kayak this morning. The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged at 8.21 am following an initial report from the Irish Coast Guard that two men…

File image of Fethard RNLI’s D class inshore lifeboat Naomh Dubhan

Fethard Lifeboat Launches To Lone Walker Cut Off By Tide At Bannow Island

1st May 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI were called out on Tuesday evening (28 April) to reports of a lone walker cut off by the incoming tide with no way of getting to safety. During his walk the man had…

RNLI and Coast Guard Search and Rescue services continue to be fully operational and on call 24/7

RNLI & Irish Coast Guard Renew Call for People Not to Use the Sea for Exercise or Recreation

30th April 2020 Coastguard

In advance of the May bank holiday weekend, the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) and RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) are renewing their call to the public not to take part in any water-based activity on or in the sea, while…

Comedian PJ Gallagher Backs RNLI’s ‘Mayday’ Appeal to Fundraise at Home During Coronavirus Restrictions

30th April 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifesaving charity, the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution), is encouraging people to help save lives at sea and on inland waters by fundraising at home for its annual Mayday fundraising appeal. The RNLI’s Mayday campaign normally sees people taking part…

Achill Island RNLI’s lifeboat Sam and Ada Moody

Good Weather Tempts Jet-Skiers & Others Back Onto Water Against Covid-19 Measures

29th April 2020 Coronavirus and Boating

The past weekend’s good weather tempted a group of jet-skiers who subsequently ran into difficulty in Clew Bay, as The Irish Times reports. Achill Island RNLI launched its lifeboat on Saturday evening (25 April) to reports of three men on…

File photo of Wicklow’s relief all-weather lifeboat Jock and Annie Slater

Wicklow Lifeboat Brings Four Fishermen To Safety

28th April 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI brought four fishermen to safety yesterday evening (Monday 27 April) after their vessel got into difficulties off the Wicklow coast. The all-weather lifeboat Jock and Annie Slater put to sea shortly before 7pm under the command of coxswain…

Bill Deans MBE, lifeboat operations manager at Aberdeen RNLI

Surfers Urged To Stay Ashore Amid Pandemic & Avoid Risk To Lifesaving Crews

15th April 2020 Water Safety

Aberdeen RNLI has urged surfers to stay ashore during the Covid-19 pandemic to “protect emergency services and save lives”. The call came after the volunteer crew of the station in north-east Scotland were forced to break self-isolation and launch their…

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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