RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Swimmer Dies After Getting Into Difficulty Near Youghal

21st September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A man has died after getting into difficulty while swimming of the cast near Youghal last Friday (18 September). Youghal RNLI was called to the scene at Caliso Bay in Co Waterford on Friday afternoon after the man was reported…

Lough Derg RNLI approach the cruiser aground

Lough Derg RNLI Assists Four Adults on a 30-ft Cruiser Aground

21st September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI assisted four adults on a 30-ft cruiser aground at Skehanagh, on eastern, Tipperary shore, of Lough Derg behind Illaunmor. At 5.15 pm this afternoon, Sunday, September 20, as Lough Derg RNLI volunteers were arriving for a training…

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI arrive at the main beach

Three Call-outs in 24 hours for Donegal's Bundoran RNLI

21st September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI was requested to attend three separate incidents between Saturday afternoon and Sunday lunchtime of the past weekend (19th/20th September 2020) Just after 3:30 pm on Saturday afternoon the crew was alerted to three people…

Baltimore RNLI on Two Call Outs Within 14 hours

20th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out twice in 14 hours to provide two separate medical evacuations from Cape Clear Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The first call out happened yesterday evening (Saturday 19 September). The volunteer lifeboat crew…

The new Arabic language water safety posters from the RNLI and Irish Refugee Council

RNLI Reaches Out To Ireland’s Immigrant Communities In New Water Safety Campaign

19th September 2020 Water Safety

The charity that saves lives at sea is reaching out to Ireland’s immigrant communities as part of a new water safety campaign. Arabic is the first language being used by the RNLI in its warnings over the dangers associated with…

Dun Laoghaire's inshore lifeboat at Blackrock

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Save Sea Swimmer at Blackrock

17th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI was requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard at 5:57 pm this evening (Thursday 17 September) after a member of the public reported a swimmer who appeared to be in difficulty off Blackrock The inshore…

Lough Derg RNLI carry out the first of two rescue of the lake

Two Callouts for Lough Derg RNLI Including a Vessel Taking on Water in Rough Weather

13th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Two callouts for Lough Derg RNLI today – the first to two people on a 32ft cruiser aground by the Silver Islands on the Galway shore at the northern end of Lough Derg, and shortly after, a Mayday call to…

Retired nurse Nora Flanagan is Arranmore RNLI’s lifeboat press officer

Arranmore Lifeboat Volunteer Recognised For Quarter-Century Of Service

12th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Arranmore RNLI volunteer Nora Flanagan has been recognised for 25 years of service to the charity that saves lives at sea. The retired nurse, who serves as the Donegal island station’s press officer, first got involved with the RNLI in…

Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat towing the yacht into harbour

Wicklow Lifeboat Assists Yacht With Engine Failure

12th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat had a midweek launch to assist two sailors on a 14-metre yacht with engine failure off the Wicklow coast. The Shannon class lifeboat set off shortly after 1pm on Wednesday 9 September and located the yacht…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer taking the cruiser under tow

Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches To Cruiser Adrift In Reeds

10th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A busy week for Lough Derg RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers continued on Tuesday night (8 September) after a 20ft cruiser suffered engine failure at the lough’s northeastern end. The lifeboat Jean Spicer launched just before 9.20pm and used all onboard electronic…

Lough Derg RNLI assisted four people on the 35-foot motor cruiser

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 35ft-Cruiser Aground By the Silver Islands on Galway Shore

8th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

At 8.25 pm this evening, Monday, September 7, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier to assist 4 people on a 35ft cruiser reported to be aground near Terryglass Bay. At 8.47 pm the lifeboat launched with…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer

Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches To Cruiser With Engine Failure

7th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI volunteers were tasked to the aid of two people on a cruiser which engine failure near Mountshanon Harbour yesterday afternoon, Sunday 6 September. The inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer diverted from a training exercise just before 2pm and…

The yacht stranded in the Irish Sea yesterday evening

Howth Lifeboat Rescues Lone Yachtsman Stranded In Irish Sea

4th September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched to the rescue of a solo sailor whose yacht got into difficulty in the Irish Sea off Dublin yesterday evening, Thursday 3 September. Pagers sounded at 7.10pm and the all-weather lifeboat was launched, its crew locating the…

Skerries RNLI crew launch their inshore lifeboat in the rapidly fading light on Tuesday evening

Back-To-Back Callouts Kick Off September For Skerries Lifeboat

3rd September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI volunteers responding to a reported flare sighting off Rush were tasked to the rescue of a cliff fall casualty in Balbriggan on a busy Tuesday night (1 September). Shortly before 8.30pm, the Skerries lifeboat crew were tasked to…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI rescued a kayaker who had capsized

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescue Capsized Kayaker Near Bullock Harbour

1st September 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

While out on their first training exercise since COVID-19 restrictions were put in place in March, Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI yesterday evening (Monday 31 August) was requested by the Irish Coast Guard to respond to a kayaker who had capsized.…

The RNLI lifeboat en route to the dismasted yacht

Dismasted Yacht Rescued in Galway Bay By RNLI

31st August 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Galway RNLI has rescued a man whose yacht got into difficulty on Galway Bay this morning. Galway RNLI says that the yacht was sailing from Barna to Ballyvaughan in Clare when the forestay broke and the mast crashed onto 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