RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Siobhan Murray, Kieran Fitzgerald, April Dunne and Ann Murray, organisers of the Ardmore Christmas Day Swim

Ardmore Christmas Day Swim Raises More Than €3,000 For Youghal Lifeboat

31st March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal’s RNLI volunteers were presented last week with a cheque for €3,439.60 from the organisers of the Ardmore Christmas Day swim. The event was first organised in 1997 and has successfully run every Christmas Day since. The swim is always…

Ballyglass RNLI in Back to Back Call Outs to Assist Crew of Two Fishing Vessels

20th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballyglass RNLI responded to two back to back call-outs today, first to bring an injured fisherman to safety, and then to assist a 10m fishing vessel that had broken down off the Mayo coast. The volunteer crew launched their all-weather…

Newcastle & Kilkeel Lifeboats Recover Missing Person From Carlingford Lough

19th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboats from Clogherhead, Newcastle and Kilkeel were involved in the search for a woman missing in Carlingford Lough at the weekend, which came to a sad end yesterday afternoon (Monday 18 March) with the discovery of a body in the…

Howth RNLI Rescue Two Sailors & 48-Foot Yacht at Risk of Sinking

18th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched its all-weather lifeboat this morning to reports of a sailing vessel with 2 people aboard taking on water and starting to sink 7 miles east of Howth. The pagers sounded at 8.24am and the all weather lifeboat…

Crosshaven RNLI's inshore lifeboat John and Janet

Crosshaven Lifeboat Assists Injured Fisherman Off Graball Bay

15th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

#Lifeboats - Crosshaven RNLI launched to the aid of an injured fisherman off Graball Bay yesterday morning (Thursday 14 March). The volunteer crew of the Crosshaven inshore lifeboat, John and Janet, were paged at 10.27am to assist a 10m fishing…

RNLI volunteers Jonathan Connor and Michael P Sullivan check up on Paddy after his dramatic rescue on 17 February

Paddy The Horse To Lead Kinsale Lifeboat Volunteers In St Patrick’s Day Parade

13th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Kinsale’s RNLI lifeboat volunteers have a very special guest joining them in the town’s St. Patrick’s Day parade this Sunday 17 March. Paddy the horse, rescued by the RNLI crew in dramatic circumstances on Sunday 17 February, will lead the…

Lough Derg RNLI’s Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat Jean Spier Officially Goes on Service

12th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A new Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat has officially gone on service at Lough Derg RNLI. The volunteer crew at Lough Derg have had intensive training over recent months in preparation for the new lifeboat Jean Spier to be officially declared…

File photo of Wicklow RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Wicklow Lifeboat Launched To Search For Missing Dog

9th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched at 4:40pm yesterday afternoon (Friday 8 March) to search for a missing dog. The alarm was raised by the anxious owner after her dog, named Otis, chased some seagulls down over the cliff edge…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s Severn class lifeboat

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Assists In Evacuation Of Ferry Passenger Taken Ill On Late Night Crossing

7th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

#Lifeboats - The RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat based in Rosslare Harbour was launched at 10.38pm on Saturday night (2 March) to assist a passenger onboard an Irish Ferries vessel bound for Pembroke in Wales. The passenger ferry Oscar Wilde, which was…

Youghal’s lifeboat volunteers tie the pleasure craft to the pier head in the harbour

Youghal Lifeboat Crew Help Vessel Taking On Water In First Callout Of 2019

5th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

#Lifeboats - Youghal RNLI’s first callout of 2019 came on Sunday (3 March) while out on a morning training exercise. The lifeboat crew had been practising casualty recovery in the area of Youghal Harbour when at 11.33am they became aware…

Bundoran RNLI volunteers pictured back from left, Paul Gallagher, Finn Mullen, Oisin Cassidy, Chris Fox and front from left, Shane O Neill, Nathan Cassidy, Mark Vaughan.

Bundoran RNLI Undertake Intensive Casualty Care Training to Help Save Lives at Sea

4th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer crew members at Bundoran RNLI recently undertook an intensive casualty care course, receiving specialised training to enhance their lifesaving skills at sea. The course ran by RNLI trainer Jen Forsyth, focused on effective hands-on treatment rather than complex theory…

Mattie Stafford left, pictured with Declan Dixon from the RNLI when he received his 20 years Long Service Medal in recognition of his time spent on the lifeboat crew

Achill Island RNLI Pays Tribute to Lifeboat Volunteer & Friend Mattie Stafford

4th March 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

In a warm tribute, the Achill Island RNLI lifeboat station’s volunteers said that it was with deepest shock, regret and sympathy to his family and his wide circle of friends that they reported the untimely passing of their esteemed former…

Long Night For Bundoran Lifeboat As Training Exercise Turns Into Five-Hour Rescue

28th February 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

#Lifeboats - The volunteers with Bundoran’s RNLI lifeboat had a long night on Tuesday (26 February) when a routine training exercise turned into a five-hour rescue. The Co Donegal lifeboat crew received the call for help at 8.30pm to a…

The relief Shannon class lifeboat Jock and Annie Slater wows the crowds on Wicklow Harbour’s East Pier

Watch Spectacular Drone Video Of Relief Lifeboat Arriving In Wicklow

26th February 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

#Lifeboats - Skycam Ireland has released some breathtaking drone video from the arrival of the relief Shannon class lifeboat Jock and Annie Slater in Wicklow on Sunday afternoon (24 February) after travelling from RNLI headquarters in Poole, Dorset. A large turnout of…

Kilkeel Lifeboat Responds To Early-Hours Mayday From Fishing Vessel Crew

25th February 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

#Lifeboats - Kilkeel’s RNLI volunteers responded to a Mayday in the early hours of yesterday morning (Sunday 24 February) after a fishing vessel lost propulsion about half a mile off Kilkeel Harbour in very foggy conditions. The crew, including helm…

Kilkeel RNLI Treasurer Retires After 25 Years Of Service

21st February 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Stanley Tomkins, treasurer for the Kilkeel RNLI volunteer crew, is to retire after 25 years’ service at the Co Down lifeboat station. Tomkins, a retired bank manager, was recently awarded the British Empire Medal for his charitable work in the…

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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