RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Three Callouts Over Busy Bank Holiday Weekend For Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat

7th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

It was a busy August Bank Holiday weekend on the Wexford coast with three callouts for Rosslare Harbour’s lifeboat volunteers. The first came on Saturday evening (3 August) at 6pm, when the lifeboat readied for launch to a report of…

File image of Clifden RNLI’s inshore and Mersey class lifeboats, which launched to the kayakers in distress yesterday evening

Sea Kayakers Rescued By Clifden Lifeboat Crew

7th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Two sea kayakers were rescued from the water off Ballyconneely in western Connemara by Clifden RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 6 August). Just after 4.30pm the lifeboat station’s volunteers responded to reports via the Irish Coast Guard of kayakers…

Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat Carries out Double Medical Evacuation off Inis Mór

6th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI came to the aid of two people yesterday evening (Bank Holiday Monday 5 August) who required medical attention off the islands. The all-weather Severn class lifeboat David Kirkaldy was requested to launch at 8 pm by the…

Oisin and Nathan Cassidy, whose father James is helm with Bundoran RNLI

Bundoran Lifesavers Learn Vital Skills Thanks To RNLI Training Fund

5th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Two recently recruited volunteer lifeboat crew at Bundoran RNLI have had a key part of their training funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, according to the lifesaving charity. Brothers Oisin and Nathan Cassidy, from Kinlough in Co Leitrim, recently travelled to…

Carrybridge RNLI at Naan Island on Sunday 4 August

Double Callout For Carrybridge Lifeboat On Busy Sunday Morning

5th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge lifeboat volunteers a busy morning on Sunday (4 August), starting with two personal water craft with engine issues close to Naan Island on Upper Lough Erne. The relief inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft were launched at 11.33am to…

Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Assist Three Yacht Crew Near Inishbofin

4th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Three crew on board a yacht which experienced difficulty off Inishbofin, North Connemara, were rescued by the RNLI Clifden crew on Saturday evening writes Lorna Siggins The yacht had been on passage to Inishbofin when its dinghy broke loose, according…

A large juvenile dolphin which became stranded at Bundúla, in Blacksod Bay

Ballyglass RNLI Rescue Stranded Dolphin in Blacksod Bay

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Seven volunteer lifeboat crew members from Ballyglass RNLI came to the rescue of a large juvenile dolphin which became stranded at Bundúla, in Blacksod Bay, just outside Belmullet this morning. The alarm was raised by concerned former RNLI crew member…

Missing Cork Harbour Kayaker Has Lucky Escape

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A large multi agency operation was launched after a kayaker was reported missing after a 2 man kayak capsized between Fountainstown and Myrtleville. The volunteers of Crosshaven RNLI were tasked at 1.37pm to attend the area after one of the…

The man fell on the shoreline, trapping his leg badly in some rocks and was unable to free himself

Clifden RNLI Rescue Man Trapped in Shoreline Fall

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A man whose leg got trapped on the Connemara shoreline during a rising tide was brought to safety in a multi-agency rescue on Thursday evening writes Lorna Siggins The incident occurred when a couple were out walking at Slackport on…

Lough Derg RNLI arriving at the 18ft boat with engine failure at Castlelough

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Boat After Engine Fire

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

On Tuesday evening (30 July), Lough Derg RNLI launched to the aid of an 18ft boat with engine failure by Mountshannon Harbour on the Clare shore. On arrival at the reported location, the volunteer lifeboat was directed by Valentia Coast…

A 15m cruiser struck rocks and started to rapidly take on water off Glandore Harbour in West Cork

Union Hall RNLI Rescues Family of Four After 15m Cruiser Strikes Rocks off Glandore Harbour

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Union Hall RNLI rescued a family of four this morning after they issued a Mayday when their 15m cruiser struck rocks and started to rapidly take on water off Glandore Harbour in West Cork. The volunteer crew were requested to…

The new RNLI Shannon Class arrives in Clifden

RNLI Clifden Welcomes its First Shannon-Class Lifeboat

1st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

North Connemara’s Clifden has become the first west coast RNLI station to receive a new Shannon-class lifeboat writes Lorna Siggins. The all-weather Shannon, which was designed by an Irish engineer and is the first RNLI class to be named after…

Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat Carries out Medical Evacuation of Boy to Rossaveal

31st July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI came to the aid of a young boy yesterday evening who required medical evacuation. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their lifeboat at 9.16pm by the Irish Coast Guard following a report that a young boy…

A veteran of the Fastnet Storm rescue of 1979, the Watson 47 Class lifeboat The Robert has been restored by Jeff Houlgrave, and is currently in Crosshaven before heading for her 1979 home port of Baltimore on Friday

Baltimore’s Restored Vintage Lifeboat Will Return to the Scene of the 1979 Fastnet Storm Rescues

30th July 2019 Fastnet

It was when the Baltimore Lifeboat was called on the evening of Monday, August 13th 1979 to the assistance of the yacht Regardless that the outside world began to realize that something exceptional was happening to the record 303-boat Fastnet…

The 30-ft cruiser stuck on rocks on a raised shoal in Lough Derg is pictured in the background

Lough Derg RNLI Assists 30ft-Cruiser Aground

29th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Today Lough Derg RNLI was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to assist two people on a 30-ft cruiser who had become stuck on rocks on a raised shoal on the Eastern Shore of Lough Derg. The lifeboat launched at 1.46 pm…

Wicklow RNLI volunteers bring the yacht alongside the East Pier at Wicklow Harbour

Wicklow Lifeboat Rescues Two Sailors On Yacht With Engine Failure

28th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Jock & Annie Slater went to the assistance of two sailors yesterday evening (Saturday 27 July) after their vessel developed engine failure. The lifeboat put to sea under the command of Deputy Coxswain Tommy McAulay, and…

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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