RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Lough Ree RNLI Respond to Three Callouts in Seven Hours

17th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was tasked with assisting seven people on board three boats that ran aground on Sunday, September 15. The return of good weather this past weekend saw additional activity on Lough Ree. It proved…

Portaferry RNLI volunteers launch the inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V

Portaferry Lifeboat Launches to Rescue of Two People on Fishing Boat off Ardglass

16th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI were paged by Belfast Coastguard just after midnight on Friday night (13 September) to assist two people onboard a fishing vessel which had run aground close to the entrance of Ardglass Harbour on Northern Ireland’s east coast. The…

File image of Ballyglass RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Ballyglass Lifeboat Escorts Vessel in Difficulty to Safety at Blacksod Bay

16th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballyglass RNLI launched both its all-weather and inshore lifeboats on Sunday afternoon (15 September) to assist the crew of a 26m cutter that got into difficulty west of the Mullet Peninsula. Malin Head Coast Guard requested the volunteer crew to…

Mayo's Ballyglass RNLI all weather lifeboat

Mayo's Ballyglass RNLI Lifeboat Escort 26m Cutter in Difficulty to Safety at Blacksod Bay

16th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballyglass RNLI in County Mayo launched both its all-weather and inshore lifeboats yesterday afternoon (Sunday 15 September) to assist the crew of a 26m cutter vessel that got into difficulty west of the Mullet Peninsula. Malin Head Coast Guard requested…

Paddy Lowry with his wife Terri and their two children at Portaferry lifeboat station

Comber Man Becomes Portaferry RNLI’s Newest Helm

16th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Comber man Paddy Lowry is Portaferry RNLI’s newest helm after he successfully passed a rigorous assessment following months of intensive training. Paddy joined Portaferry RNLI in 2022 after moving close to Portaferry on Northern Ireland’s Ards Peninsula with his family.…

The late RNLI Castletownbere Deputy Coxswain Garda Dave Fenton

Tributes to Late RNLI Castletownbere Deputy Coxswain Garda Dave Fenton

15th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Tributes have been paid to RNLI Castletownbere deputy coxswain Dave Fenton, who has died unexpectedly at the age of 41. As The Sunday Independent reports, Fenton was an experienced Garda who saved lives on both land and sea as a…

Darren Collins (right) with his dad Chris (left) of Union Hall RNLI with Darren’s uncle Pat of Baltimore RNLI

Son Joins Father in Becoming Union Hall RNLI’s Newest Helm

14th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Union Hall RNLI now has its first father-and-son helms in Chris and Darren Collins. Darren has been a volunteer crew member at the West Cork lifeboat station and on Thursday night (12 September) passed out as a helm. The role…

Aran Islands RNLI Rescues Three Kayakers Caught by Offshore Wind off Kilronan Pier

11th September 2024 Island News

Aran Islands RNLI came to the aid of three kayakers who failed to return to shore yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, 10th September). The alarm was raised when they were reported overdue. The volunteer crew were initially requested to launch their all-weather…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s volunteers responding to the call-out on Saturday afternoon 7 September

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Launches to Rescue of Lone Sailor on Pleasure Craft

10th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour RNLI and Carnsore/Rosslare Coast Guard came to the aid of a sailor on a 17ft pleasure craft which had developed mechanical problems on Saturday (7 September). The all-weather lifeboat was launched at 12.20pm, following a call from the…

File image of Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Carrybridge Lifeboat Crew Help Eight People in Three Separate Rescues Over Seven Hours

10th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards diverted from a planned course to neighbouring Enniskillen RNLI lifeboat station on Saturday afternoon (7 September) to assess a six-metre vessel with engine difficulties some 2.5 miles downstream from Carrybridge. Winds…

Bangor RNLI's Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Ruby Robinson

Bangor RNLI Rescues Three People in Consecutive Call-Outs off the Coast of Down

10th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Bangor RNLI came to the aid of three people in consecutive call-outs yesterday (Monday, 9 September) after a report of a sailing boat with engine difficulty close to Bangor harbour and again later that evening to a sailor in distress…

The new lifeboat station at Arranmore RNLI

First Call-Out for Arranmore RNLI After Official Opening of New Lifeboat Station

9th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Arranmore RNLI crew celebrated the official opening of their new station on Saturday (7 September) amid sunshine and with friends from near and far. After the ceremony was over, the crew went home for a well-earned rest — or so…

A presentation was held at Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat station to award longstanding service certificates of thanks to volunteers. The recipients included Johnny Moore, Felicity and John McMorris, and Pauline McGann

Kilmore Quay RNLI Volunteers Recognised for Longstanding Service

9th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Two of Kilmore Quay RNLI’s dedicated fundraising volunteers were presented with RNLI Certificates of Thanks on Sunday (September 8th) in recognition of their longstanding service to the charity that saves lives at sea. As an independent charity organisation, the RNLI…

Galway Lifeboat crew Declan Killilea (helm), Lisa McDonagh and Frankie Leonard returning to the lifeboat station after being requested to launch to reports of a windsurfer in difficulty off Salthill on Sunday 08 September, the first of two shouts within 24 hours for the volunteer Galway crew

Galway RNLI Lifeboat Crew Assists Windsurfer and RIB in Distress Off the Coast

9th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The crew of the Galway RNLI lifeboat launched on Sunday after a report of a windsurfer in difficulty off Salthill and again on Monday morning to a boat in distress off Ballinacourty Pier. The pagers were activated at 3.24pm yesterday…

Teenager Rescued by Kinsale RNLI After Fall on Rocks at Sandycove

9th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Kinsale RNLI rescued a teenager after a fall on the rocks at the entrance to Sandycove, a popular swimming and fishing spot near Kinsale. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 7:16pm on Saturday, (7 September)…

Clifden RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat at sunset

Clifden Lifeboats Tasked to Medevac From Inishbofin

8th September 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew at Clifden RNLI launched both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats on Friday evening (6 February) to assist a man who had sustained injuries on Inishbofin. The pagers sounded at 6.45pm and the lifeboats were away shortly afterwards.…

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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