RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The Rosslare Harbour Severn lifeboat photographed from onboard the Kilmore QuayTamar lifeboat

Yacht Taking on Water is Rescued by Rosslare Harbour and Kilmore Quay RNLI

16th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour and Kilmore Quay RNLI, in a joint operation, came to the assistance of two people on board a yacht that was taking on water eight miles northeast of Rosslare Harbour on Thursday evening (13 July 2023) The Rosslare…

The passage took the all-weather lifeboat, ‘Sam and Ada Moody’ southwest of Clare Island, arriving at Inishturk Island shortly before 8.30am

Achill Island RNLI Assist in Medical Evacuation of Woman from Inishturk

14th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI responded to a request to assist a woman requiring medical evacuation from Inishturk this morning, Friday, 14 July. The request came from the Irish Coast Guard, who had also requested the assistance of Sligo based helicopter, Rescue…

Helvick Head RNLI’s inshore lifeboat taking the 30ft fishing boat under tow on Tuesday 11 July

Helvick Head Lifeboat Assists Fisherman After Boat Breakdown Off Mine Head

14th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Helvick Head RNLI came to the aid of a fisherman on Tuesday afternoon (11 July) after they got into difficulty and needed assistance three miles off Mine Head, southwest of Dungarvan in Co Waterford. At the request of the Irish…

Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat alongside the stricken boat with engine problems near Ballyhoran Beach on Thursday 13 July

Two Call-Outs in 24 Hours See Newcastle Lifeboats Bring Four to Safety

14th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Newcastle RNLI in Northern Ireland has this week come to the aid of four people in separate call-outs over a 24-hour period. The volunteers pagers first sounded at 4.10pm on Wednesday (12 July) when Belfast Coastguard requested the crew to…

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore relief lifeboat approaches one of the casualty vessels

Carrybridge Lifeboat Assists Six People in Three Rescues Within 24 Hours

13th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

In the first of three separate rescues within a 24-hour period this week, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore relief lifeboat launched on Monday (10 July) to assess a 27ft vessel with two people on board which had mechanical issues around a mile…

From left: Charlie Glynn, Tom Blunnie, Fintan Keating, Ian Lynch and Ger Keane with their Letters of Commendation from the RNLI for their part in the rescue of three people in June 2020

Kilrush Lifeboat Volunteers Receive RNLI Commendations for Saving Three Lives

12th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Five Kilrush RNLI volunteers have received meritorious awards from the RNLI for their part in a 2020 rescue that saved the lives of three people in storm-force conditions. Shannon Foynes Port Company were also recognised by the charity for their…

File image of Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Aran Islands Lifeboat in Monday Evening Medevac for Sick Patient

11th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Aran Islands RNLI were requested to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat at 6.05pm on Monday (10 July) to attend a person on Inis Mór who was experiencing a health issue and indeed of further medical…

RNLI volunteers unfurl flags at Croke Park on Sunday 9 July highlighting their water safety campaign Float to Live

RNLI Lifeboat Volunteers Take to the Pitch at Croke Park to Highlight Water Safety

11th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI volunteers across the island of Ireland took to the pitch during Sunday’s (9 July) All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-final at Croke Park, to promote the charity’s water safety partnership with the GAA. Before the throw-in at the Clare vs…

Mike Swan (left), volunteer lifeboat operations manager with Galway RNLI presents a framed picture of the Aran Islands all-weather lifeboat David Kirkaldy with the Galway inshore lifeboat Binny to John O’Donnell who recently retired as coxswain with Aran Islands RNLI after 21 years

Galway RNLI Pay Tribute to Retired Aran Islands Lifeboat Coxswain

11th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

In recognition of the long career of RNLI coxswain John O’Donnell and the close relationship with the Aran Islands RNLI, last week the Galway RNLI crew presented a framed picture of the lifeboats from both stations to O’Donnell to mark…

Larne RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Terry answering Friday’s (7 July) call-out

Larne Lifeboat Volunteers Rescue Kayaker in Water Near Portmuck Harbour

10th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI were requested to launch on Friday afternoon (7 July) to reports of a kayaker in the water at Portmuck. Both of Larne’s lifeboats launched after pagers sounded at 5.24pm and made their way towards the casualty’s last reported…

The Bundoran RNLI inshore lifeboat rescued two adults and four children on inflatable paddleboards

Bundoran RNLI Rescue Six Stand-up Paddleboarders Who Use Phone in Waterproof Pouch to Raise Alarm

10th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI aided six stand-up paddleboarders who got into difficulty off Rossnowlagh yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 9 July). Lifeboat crew Rory O’Connor, Shane O’Neill, Finn Mullen and Fergal Muller were carrying out a routine training exercise at approximately 12.30 pm when…

File image of Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat on exercise on Lough Erne

Enniskillen RNLI Launches Inshore Lifeboat to Reports of Boat Adrift

8th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Enniskillen RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat at 2pm on Monday (3 July), following a request from Belfast Coastguard to check a 17ft fishing boat reported to have all fishing equipment onboard and drifting close to Hare Island. Winds were…

Long-distance bikers Hugh Hanlon and Kevin Power visit the Lough Ree lifeboat station on their motorcycles

Lough Ree RNLI’s New Boathouse Becoming a Top Local Visitor Attraction

8th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Local school groups, community associations, supporters of the charity and many donors have made the new boathouse at Lough Ree RNLI one of the emerging visitor attractions in the Midlands with last month been one of the busiest periods to…

Wicklow RNLI’s volunteer crew carrying out assessments in the harbour before they were diverted to assist the stricken yacht

Wicklow Lifeboat Brings Five to Safety After Yacht Loses Power on Codling Bank

8th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

While Wicklow RNLI's volunteer crew were undergoing assessments on Wednesday evening (5 July), they were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a 40ft yacht with five people onboard which had lost all power on…

Approximately 1.5 hours after the initial alert, the Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat arrived at the broken-down fishing vessel

Dunmore East RNLI Tows Home Fishing Vessel With Engine Trouble

7th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat crew responded to a call of a fishing vessel in distress on Wednesday evening (5th July). Having been notified by the Irish Coast Guard, the emergency pagers went off at 19:07, alerting the crew to…

Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat with the refloated yacht under tow

Baltimore Lifeboats Launch to Yacht Aground Near Sherkin Island

6th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Both Baltimore RNLI lifeboats were called out on Thursday morning (6 July) to assist a sailor whose yacht ran aground on rocks near Sherkin Island within Baltimore Harbour in West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched both their all-weather lifeboat…

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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