RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Ballycotton Lifeboat In Medevac From Ferry Off East Cork Coast

6th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat on Saturday evening (4 August) around 7.20pm to a crew member on board the Pont-Aven cruise ferry. The female casualty, who became injured while working on the vessel, required a medevac while 30 miles off…

Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat off Roches Point

Bank Holiday Weekend Rescues Continue Busy Time For Courtmacsherry Lifeboat

6th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn was called out at 9pm on Friday night (3 August) to go to the aid of a 36ft yacht adrift some 18 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale in West Cork.…

Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat William Gordon Burr

Portrush Lifeboat Rescues Man From Sea After Fall From Elephant Rock

3rd August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched last night (Thursday 2 August) to assist with the recovery of a man who had fallen from Elephant Rock into the sea at Ballintoy. The volunteer crew launched the lifeboat at 6.45pm and…

The catamaran being brought under tow to Port Oriel

Clogherhead Lifeboat Rescues New Zealand Catamaran & Crew

3rd August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clogherhead RNLI had a late-night callout on Wednesday 1 August to rescue the crew of a yacht that had got into difficulty. At around 10.10pm, the Co Louth village’s all-weather lifeboat was requested by the Irish Coast Guard to…

Kinsale RNLI’s Dave Humphreys and Temba Jere flank organising committee members Avril O’Brien and David Doherty (second from right), MC Alan Shortt and RNLI Munster community fundraising manager Mary Creedon

Cork Lifeboat Lunch Returns To Raise Vital Funds For The RNLI

2nd August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The hugely successful Cork RNLI charity lunch and auction is set to return after an absence of five years. The revamped fundraiser for Baltimore, Crosshaven and Kinsale’s RNLI lifeboat stations will take place in the 18th century mansion…

The cardinal marker off the Aughris peninsula has now been recorded as a navigational hazard

Large Marker Buoy Found Adrift By Clifden Lifeboat

2nd August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched just after midnight on Monday (30 July) to reports of a flashing light spotted off the Connemara coast. The bright flashing lights had been seen from the shore north-west of the Aughris peninsula, and…

Udderly problematic! The cow is rescued by the RNLI south of Athlone

Lough Ree RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Cow Stuck in the Mud South of Athlone

31st July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 10.33am this morning Malin Head Coast Guard requested Lough Ree RNLI launch to assist in the rescue of a cow that was stuck in the mud at Long Island, 2 miles south of Athlone. Conditions at the time were…

Ballycotton’s all-weather lifeboat approaches Youghal RNLI with the stricken pleasure boat

East Cork Lifeboats Rescue Three From Sinking Vessel

28th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Three men were rescued from their pleasure boat off an East Cork island on Thursday afternoon (26 July) when it began taking on water. Ballycotton RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat at around 1.40pm to to the scene east of…

Kilkeel RNLI alongside the fishing boat which reported an ill crew member yesterday evening

Kilkeel Lifeboat Launches To Fisherman Taken Ill

27th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Kilkeel RNLI’s volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 7.55pm yesterday evening (Thursday 26 July) after a crew member of a fishing boat was reported unwell and in need of medical attention. Winds were blowing 3 to 4 knots…

Galway Lifeboat Rescues German Students Stranded On Hare Island

27th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Three young German visitors were rescued by Galway RNLI after getting stranded on Hare Island in Galway Bay yesterday afternoon (Thursday 26 July). The three students were trapped on the island after the tide came in shortly before 12.30pm.…

Mayday Callout for Lough Derg RNLI to Cruiser 'Sinking'

26th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 2.12pm today Lough Derg RNLI to launched following a Mayday relay from Valentia Coast Guard to assist two people reported to be in the water after their 28ft–cruiser was 'taking on water and sinking'. Valentia Coast Guard gave co-ordinates…

Donaghadee’s all-weather lifeboat Saxon will be open to the public Saturday afternoon as part of the annual festival

All Aboard For Donaghadee’s Lifeboat Festival This Weekend

26th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Donaghdee RNLI has put together a packed itinerary for their forthcoming Lifeboat Festival this coming Saturday 28 July. The popular maritime festival has gone from strength to strength each year, with locals and visitors exploring the maritime heritage…

File image of Baltimore’s lifeboat crew preparing for a medevac

Baltimore Lifeboat In Medevac From Cape Clear Island

26th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI carried out a medical evacuation yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 25 July) from Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard…

Bundoran Lifeboat In Two Sunday Calls For Assistance

23rd July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Bundoran RNLI responded to two calls for assistance yesterday (Sunday 22 July) by an angling boat with a fouled propeller and a yachtsman suddenly taken ill. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched after 10am following a call to go the…

Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Rescues Six From Dive Boat Off Kinsale

23rd July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI rescued six people yesterday afternoon (Sunday 22 July) when their 20ft RIB dive boat got into difficulties at the Old Head of Kinsale. The all-weather lifeboat under coxswain Kevin Young and a crew of six launched…

Wicklow’s all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker

Wicklow Lifeboat Assists Yacht Taking On Water

23rd July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker launched shortly after 3.10pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 22 July) after the skipper of a yacht taking on water called for assistance. The lifeboat — under the command of coxswain Nick Keogh and with…

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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