RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The new inshore lifeboat pictured with hew crew which is now located at Carrybridge and which has launched 13 times since going on service, was officially named Douglas, Euan & Kay Richards

Carrybridge RNLI’s New Inshore Atlantic 85 Class Lifeboat Named on Upper Lough Erne

9th June 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At a special naming ceremony and service of dedication held today (Saturday 9 June), Carrybridge RNLI officially named its new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat, Douglas, Euan & Kay Richards, at the lifeboat station on Upper Lough Erne. The honour of…

Bundoran Lifeboat Rescues Kayaker In Difficulty

8th June 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Bundoran RNLI has rescued a kayaker who got into difficulty between Rossnowlagh and Creevy Pier yesterday evening (Thursday 7 June). The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Malin Head Coast Guard at 8.11pm following…

The RNLI has created a new video here explaining the five steps to floating

RNLI Joins GAA to Bring National Drowning Campaign ‘Respect the Water’ into Clubs Across Ireland

7th June 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI, in partnership with the GAA, through their Healthy Club Programme, has this morning (Thursday 7 June), launched its 2018 national drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. The campaign this year will see…

Four people were assisted by Lough Ree RNLI Volunteers when their boat got stuck on rocks

Lough Ree RNLI Rescue Tourists From Boat on Rocks

7th June 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 11am yesterday morning, (6 June 2018), Lough Ree RNLI inshore lifeboat crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard in Malin Head to go to the assistance of 4 people whose boat had got stuck on Slate…

Fenit Lifeboats Respond To Five Callouts In One Week

5th June 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Fenit RNLI’s lifeboat volunteer crew responded to a number of calls received from people experiencing difficulties in the sea over the past seven days. The callouts included a person requiring medical assistance, another person getting into difficulty while…

The lifeboat, crewed by Alan Venner, with Georgia Keating, Jenna O’Shea and David Venner arrived with the casualty some 40 minutes later and established a tow to Crosshaven

Crosshaven RNLI Assist Yacht on Passage from UK to Cork Harbour

4th June 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 9.45pm on 2 June, the crew of the Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat in Cork Harbour were paged to assist a 39’ yacht on passage from the UK to Crosshaven. The vessel's given position was in the area of the ‘Power’…

Lough Derg RNLI crew check over the cruiser that ran aground at Tullabeg

Bank Holiday Sunday Lifeboat Shouts In Baltimore, Wicklow & Lough Derg

4th June 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A busy Bank Holiday Sunday (3 June) for RNLI lifeboat callouts began just after 9am, when Baltimore RNLI was tasked to a yacht that ran aground upriver from the West Cork village. The vessel, with two on board, got…

Once on scene the lifeboat crew checked that the two onboard were safe and well before attempting to tow the vessel off the rocks

Rosslare Harbour RNLI Rescues Two Onboard 12m French Racing Yacht That Runs Aground

31st May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour RNLI rescued a man and woman from a 12m French racing yacht which ran aground last night during the Normandy Channel Race. The yacht which had successfully rounded the Tuskar Rock and was making its way towards the…

Susan Mason and her husband Seamus are Buckingham Palace bound

Youghal RNLI Volunteers Invited To Queen’s Garden Party

31st May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Two long-serving volunteers from Youghal RNLI in East Cork have a royal engagement at Buckingham Palace next week. Former station mechanic Seamus Mason, who has been a lifeboat volunteer with the RNLI for 30 years, and his wife…

Bundoran lifeboat crew immediately took the man onboard and began to administer casualty care

Bundoran RNLI Rescue Man & Boy Caught in Rip Current off Beach

28th May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers from Bundoran RNLI were involved in the rescue of a man and a boy who got caught in a rip current off Bundoran beach yesterday afternoon (Sunday 27 May). Malin Head Coast Guard requested the inshore lifeboat to launch…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Launches To Stranded Yacht Near Tuskar Rock

28th May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched late last night (Sunday 27 May) to assist a becalmed yacht with three crew onboard. The 13m yacht, which was travelling south, was becalmed on a very still evening. Unable to continue and…

The half-submerged paddle steamer in the Irish Sea

Paddle Steamer Bound For Ireland Sinks Near Holyhead

26th May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI volunteers from Holyhead in North Wales were called to a paddle steamer sinking in the Irish Sea yesterday afternoon (Friday 25 May). The vessel had been under tow by tug towards Ireland after a period in the south of England…

Baltimore Lifeboat In Two Friday Callouts To People In Difficulty On Passenger Vessels

26th May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI has praised the swift actions of one of its volunteer crew members in the rescue a man taken ill on a passenger vessel in West Cork yesterday afternoon (Friday 25 May). In the first of two…

Lough Ree Lifeboat In Rescue Of Swimmer In Difficulty Near Athlone

24th May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI was requested to launch its inshore lifeboat at 6.56pm yesterday evening (Wednesday 23 May) following reports of a swimmer in difficulty at the Golden Mile south of the motorway bridge in Athlone. Inshore lifeboat The…

Fisherman Dies After Capsize Off Cruagh Island

24th May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A fisherman has died after his boat capsized off Cruagh Island near Clifden in Co Galway yesterday evening (Wednesday 23 May). Volunteers from Clifden RNLI were involved in the search and rescue operation for the man after the…

Ramsey RNLI with the casualty vessel safely in tow

Manx & NI Lifeboats Assist Broken Down Angling Vessel

24th May 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Ramsey RNLI on the Isle of Man launched its all-weather lifeboat Ann & James Ritchie yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 23 May) to render assistance to a day angling vessel with three people on board. The 21ft vessel had broken down…

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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