RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Diarmaid Bird recently at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset

Fethard RNLI Lifesaver Learn Vital Skills Thanks to Million-Euro Training Fund

26th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A volunteer crew member at Fethard RNLI lifeboat station has had a vital part of their crew training funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Diarmaid Bird recently travelled to the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset, to complete the charity’s Crew Emergency…

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Assists Injured Sailor on Dismasted Yacht

24th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI volunteers were paged at 1.50 pm this afternoon to reports of a dismasted yacht with injuries off Fort Camden in Cork Harbour. According to the RNLI, the 32’ yacht with five persons onboard was a participant in a…

Stonehaven RNLI’s Atlantic 75 Miss Betty is lowered onto a trailer for transport to RNLI HQ in Poole

Stonehaven RNLI Bids Farewell To Last Serving Atlantic 75 Lifeboat In Scotland

22nd November 2019 Scottish Waters

It was a sad day this week as Stonehaven RNLI said goodbye to the last Atlantic 75 lifeboat in service in Scotland. The volunteer crew in Aberdeenshire watched as Miss Berry was winched out of the water to be transported…

Lough Ree RNLI together with Athlone Sub Aqua Club were honoured by the Municipal District of Athlone-Moate

Lough Ree RNLI Lifeboat Receive Civic Honour

21st November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI together with Athlone Sub Aqua Club have been honoured by the Municipal District of Athlone-Moate on behalf of Westmeath County Council. The recognition was awarded to the volunteers of Lough Ree RNLI and Athlone Sub Aqua Club…

The challenge is being undertaken with the aim of showcasing the River Liffey as one of Dublin’s best amenities while raising funds for the RNLI

High Tide on the River Liffey to Showcase All in a Row 8-Hour Marathon Challenge

19th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

All In A Row 2019 comes to the capital’s River Liffey on Saturday week, 30 November, challenging teams rowing 40 skiffs, kayaks, canoes and currachs to exceed a 1,000 km target in eight hours. The organisers are hoping to exceed…

Howth RNLI Hosts ‘Lifeboat Supporters’ Evening’ Tonight

19th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI is hosting a special Lifeboat Supporters’ Evening tonight, Tuesday 19 November, from 7.30pm at Howth Yacht Club. Those attending will learn the latest news and updates from the Howth lifesaving volunteers, as well as see video of their…

Lee Early died in an incident on Arranmore Island early on Sunday

Arranmore RNLI Pays Tribute To Lifeboat Volunteer Who Died In Pier Incident

19th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Arranmore RNLI has paid tribute to lifeboat volunteer Lee Early, who died on Sunday (17 November) after an incident at a pier on the Co Donegal island. TheJournal.ie reports that Early (26) and another man, who survived the incident, were…

Lerwick lifeboat crew at the scene of the grounded vessel late Friday night

Lerwick Lifeboat Aids Crew Of Grounded Vessel

18th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lerwick lifeboat launched late Friday night (15 November) to the aid of a fishing vessel which had grounded on rocks just north of the Shetland Islands harbour. The 26-metre, Inverness-registered trawler was stuck fast and was listing when the Severn-class…

File image of Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Three Fishermen Rescued By Wicklow Lifeboat

18th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat put to sea at 1.20pm on Saturday afternoon (16 November) after being tasked to assist a whelk fishing vessel in difficulties. The lifeboat, under the command of coxswain Nick Keogh and a volunteer crew, was alongside…

Bundoran RNLI Carry Out Search After Capsized Kayak Found off the Shore at Nuns Pool

15th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat this afternoon after a concerned crew member spotted an upturned kayak just off the shore at Nuns Pool. Crew member Fergal Muller was at the cliffs on Bundoran’s West End when he raised…

A 'Perfect Storm' Hits the RNLI

14th November 2019 Tom MacSweeney

As a new lifeboat arrived in Lough Ree on Tuesday an envelope arrived on my desk from the RNLI, painting a perspective of the lifeboat service from a different viewpoint. As Afloat reported earlier, the new Atlantic 85 on Athlone’s…

The North Coast fundraising team display their Islay Sea Collection that’s now up for auction

Sailors Do A ‘Whiskey Run’ For Portrush & Islay Lifeboats

14th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A group of seven men from the North Coast hatched a novel way to carry out some fundraising for the Portrush and Islay RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews recently. As a group of keen sailors and avid supporters of the RNLI…

The lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards approaches the stricken vessel at an island in Upper Lough Erne

Carrybridge Lifeboat Assists Vessel Adrift Near Island In Upper Lough Erne

13th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launched yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 12 November) to a vessel adrift close to an island in Upper Lough Erne north-east of Knockninny Marina. Winds were north-westerly Force 2 when the lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards arrived…

The Tara Scougall ready for first launch

Lough Ree RNLI's New Atlantic 85 Class Lifeboat Arrives at Coosan Point

13th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat, Tara Scougall, has gone on service at Lough Ree RNLI. The lifeboat which arrived at the Coosan Point lifeboat station today, Tuesday 12 November 2019, replaces The Eric Rowse which has been used for…

Tony Hiney (left) is presented with a canvas photograph of Clifden’s new Shannon lifeboat

Tributes Paid To Lifeboat Volunteers In Connemara

11th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Members of the Connemara/Clifden RNLI Lifeboats Fundraising Branch gathered at the Station House Hotel in Clifden recently to acknowledge the contributions and retirements of some longstanding members. Area fundraising manager Tony Hiney, who is himself set to retire this year,…

Youghal RNLI Assist Grounded Yacht

9th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI was tasked at 11.58 am on Friday 8 November by the Coast Guard to help assist them in recovering a yacht that had gone aground at Harvey’s Dock after becoming loose from its moorings. In calm and clear…

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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