RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Skerries RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson

Three Callouts In Less Than A Week For Busy Skerries Lifeboat Volunteers

26th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI volunteers responded to three callouts in less than a week starting last Friday (19 July) when they towed a small fishing boat to safety. They were called out again on Monday to assist three teenagers on an inflatable…

The stricken yacht is moored at Ardglass Harbour

Newcastle Lifeboat Comes To Aid Of French Sailors With Engine Troubles

24th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Eight French sailors were happy to see Newcastle RNLI when their motor yacht had engine troubles off the Co Down coast last Friday night (19 July). Conditions were poor, with fog and rain and a southerly Force 3 wind with…

Aran Islands RNLI’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat

Aran Islands Lifeboat In Two Medical Evacuations From Neighbouring Islands

24th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI responded to two medical evacuations, or medevacs, yesterday morning (Tuesday 23 July). The all-weather Severn class lifeboat Margaret, Joan and Fred NYE launched at 10.15am following a request from the Irish Coast Guard, headed initially to Inis…

Aran Islands RNLI Comes to Aid of Sailor on Yacht in Difficulty off Straw Island

23rd July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI volunteers were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 5.20pm on Saturday (20 July) by the Irish Coast Guard as a yacht with one onboard was experiencing engine difficulty northeast of Straw Island. The all-weather Severn class…

Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat crew deploy the vessel’s Y boat

Portrush Lifeboat Rescues Jetskier After Breakdown At Benone Beach

23rd July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI’s volunteer crew launched yesterday evening (Monday 22 July) to reports of a jetskier in difficulty at Benone Beach around 8.17pm. The crew, who had just finished an exercise and had been stood down, launched the all-weather lifeboat in…

File image of Baltimore RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Baltimore Lifeboat Rescues Windsurfer In Difficulty

18th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 17 July) to rescue a windsurfer who got into difficulty in Baltimore Harbour in West Cork. The inshore lifeboat launched at 2.01pm after a member of the public alerted the Irish Coast Guard that…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Anna Livia

Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Rescues Man Found Clinging To Capsized Boat In Dalkey

16th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A man found clinging to his capsized boat off Dalkey yesterday afternoon (Monday 15 July) was rescued by Dun Laoghaire’s RNLI lifeboat. The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to launch their inshore lifeboat at 3.52pm…

The RNLI lifeboat took the vessel off the rocks and out into safe water

Valentia Coastguard Requests RNLI to Launch at Lough Derg

15th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

At 9 pm on Sunday, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to go to the assistance of six people, four adults and two young children, on a 35ft cruiser aground inside the Mountaineer buoy at Ryan’s Point, on the eastern…

GAA personalities Marty Morrissey and Anthony Daly with local GAA players at Kilrush RNLI

GAA Personalities Back RNLI’s ‘Respect The Water’ Campaign

11th July 2019 Water Safety

GAA presenter and commentator Marty Morrissey and hurling legend Anthony Daly joined the lifeboat crew from Kilrush RNLI and young players from Co Clare to raise awareness of the risks of drowning and encourage people to enjoy the water safely.…

Skerries RNLI bring the woman and two children back to the mainland

Woman & Children Rescued After Stranding On Island Off Skerries At High Tide

11th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI helped rescue a woman and two children yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 10 July) after they were stranded on Shenick Island having been cut off by the rising tide. Shortly after 3pm, the Irish Coast Guard tasked the north Co Dublin lifeboat station to…

Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Launches Twice On Busy Saturday

7th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteers of Clifden RNLI lifeboat launched twice yesterday on what was a busy day for the crew. At approximately 1.28pm Clifden’s All Weather Lifeboat Fisherman’s Friend was tasked to assist with a medical evacuation from Inishbofin Island. The Lifeboat…

RNLI Renews Calls For People To ‘Respect The Water’ Following Recent Tragic Deaths

5th July 2019 Water Safety

Following a number of tragic deaths during the past week in the waters around the UK and Ireland, the RNLI is urging people to take extra care if they are heading to the coast or inland waterways this weekend. As…

Donaghadee RNLI’s Trent class lifeboat Saxon

Donaghadee Lifeboat Rescues Five Stranded On Copeland Islands

5th July 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Donaghadee RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew put to sea on Wednesday night (3 July) to rescue three adults and two children who had become stranded on the Copeland Islands following problems with their jetski. The group had gone to the Co…

The casualty prepared for transfer to the Kilmore Quay lifeboat

Man Airlifted To Hospital After Mayday On Yacht Off Kilmore Quay

1st July 2019 Rescue

A man was taken to hospital with hand injuries by Irish Coast Guard helicopter after a Mayday call on a yacht off Kilmore Quay on Saturday (29 June). The local RNLI lifeboat crew were en route to another vessel that had…

File image of Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Baltimore Lifeboat Launches To Propped Yacht South Of Mizen Head

29th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI launched yesterday morning (Friday 28 June) after a yacht became propped on a pot buoy two miles south of Mizen Head off the coast of West Cork. The all-weather lifeboat launched at 10.03am following a request by the…

Aran Islands RNLI approaching the yacht off Gorumna Island

Aran Islands Lifeboat Rescues Two On Yacht In Difficulty Off Gorumna Island

28th June 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI rescued two sailors after their 38ft yacht got into difficulties off Gorumna Island in Co Galway yesterday morning (Thursday 27 June). The station received the shout at 7.27am and the lifeboat David Kirkaldy launched under coxswain Tommy…

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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