RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

RNLI trustee and coxswain Paddy McLaughlin (centre) receives the Ireland Medal with Dunmore East RNLI volunteer Peter Grogan (left) and head of water safety Gareth Morrison

RNLI Trustee and Coxswain Paddy McLaughlin of Red Bay Receives Ireland Medal for Drowning Prevention

8th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI trustee and Red Bay lifeboat coxswain Paddy McLaughlin has been presented with the Lifesaving Foundation’s Ireland Medal in recognition of his outstanding work in saving lives from drowning. The medal was presented by Commodore Micheal Malone, Flag Officer Commanding…

File image of Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Two Shouts for Youghal Lifeboat Over Busy May Bank Holiday Weekend

7th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers in East Cork launched twice over the May Bank Holiday weekend, to join the rescue efforts for a boat aground on rocks and a kayaker in difficulty. Late on Saturday afternoon (4 May) the crew were…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier as seen from the bow of the 28ft cruiser it took under tow on Sunday 5 May

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Family of Four on Cruiser Reported on Fire

6th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched on Sunday afternoon (5 May) to assist a family of four on board a 28ft cruiser reported to be on fire. Following the request by Valentia Coast Guard just before noon, the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier…

Carrybridge RNLI Inshore Lifeboat on Lough Erne

Carrybridge RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Rescues Two People on a Vessel Taking on Water in Lough Erne

6th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI Inshore Lifeboat on Lough Erne came to the rescue of two people on a 40-foot vessel that was taking on water near the Killyhevlin Hotel on Saturday, May 4. The Belfast Coastguard had requested the launch of the…

The broken down powerboat in tow astern of the Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat Austin Lidbury

Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat Tows Stranded Powerboat Back to Crosshaven

5th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat The Austin Lidbury was called to action off the Cork coast on Saturday, May 4th, following a request for assistance from the crew of a 24ft power boat that had suffered mechanical failure. The boat was on…

The Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat, the Austin Lidbury

Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat Responds to Powerboat With Engine Failure

4th May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat was called to action on Friday 3 May, after a power boat suffered engine failure just south of Ballycotton Island. The Austin Lidbury was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard at 5.11pm, following a request…

Coastguard Rescue 116 lowered a winchman to assess the situation and observed that all six individuals were in good health and wearing lifejackets

Howth RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Family of Six from Stranded Powerboat off Lambay Island

3rd May 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

A family of six was rescued by the Howth RNLI, a volunteer crew, after their powerboat suffered engine failure and ended up on rocks at Lambay Island, off the north Dublin coast on Friday 3 May. The Dublin Coast Guard…

File image of Arranmore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat on the water, with three dolphins frolicking in the foreground

Arranmore Lifeboat Goes to Aid of Sailor After Yacht Gets Into Difficulty

29th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Arranmore RNLI’s volunteer crew were roused in the early hours of Sunday morning (28 April) by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist a sailor onboard a yacht that lost power 18 miles west of the Co Donegal island. The initial…

Clifden RNLI’s inshore lifeboat alongside the upturned hull of the sailing boat in Clifden Bay on Thursday evening 25 April

Clifden Lifeboat Rescues Sailor From Capsized Boat

27th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI’s volunteer crew in western Connemara launched on Thursday evening (25 April) to rescue a sailor from the upturned hull of his sailing boat in Clifden Bay. At 8.45pm the lifeboat crew were tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard…

Galway RNLI volunteer crew on board the Atlantic 85 lifeboat Binny during a recent training exercise

Galway RNLI Rescues Two People Stranded By the Tide on Hare Island

27th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Galway RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon following a report of two people stranded by the tide on Hare Island, which is located on inner Galway Bay. The crew’s pagers were…

File image of Crosshaven RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Crosshaven Lifeboat Launches to Aid of Two on 30ft Yacht in Difficulty

26th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI in Cork Harbour came to aid of two people on Wednesday (24 April) after their 30ft yacht got into difficulty. The yacht’s crew who were on passage from Dublin to Crosshaven alerted the Irish Coast Guard at Valentia…

Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist a trawler in difficulty and unsure of its location

Donaghdee RNLI Lifeboat Crew Rescues Fishing Trawler in Difficulty and 'Unsure of Location'

25th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

In the early hours of Thursday 25 April, the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew from Donaghadee lifeboat station received a call from HM Coastguard to launch a rescue mission. A 40ft fishing trawler with one person onboard had contacted the Coastguard…

Bundoran RNLI Rescue Fisherman When Engine Fails Close to Rocks

24th April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI lifeboat in County Donegal came to the aid of a fisherman on Wednesday, 24 April after their 6m open-top fishing boat sustained engine failure approximately half a mile from the pier at the lifeboat station. The volunteer crew…

Galway RNLI’s volunteer crew on board the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, launching to rescue a casualty stranded on Hare Island on Monday 22 April

Galway Lifeboat Rescues Walker Stranded by Tide on Hare Island

23rd April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Galway RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard on Monday afternoon (22 April) to rescue a walker on Hare Island who was cut off by the incoming tide. The request to launch came shortly before…

The epitome of a community lifeboat – Crosshaven RNLI in action on Cork Harbour

Crosshaven Lifeboat To Fund-Raise Through Yellow Welly Shore Walks of Cork Harbour

23rd April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

We’ve become so accustomed to the RNLI’s Yellow Wellies being used as receptacles for Lifeboat Fund-Raisers – with silent donations much preferred, and usually generously given - that we can easily forget they’re practical items of footwear. But Crosshaven Lifeboat…

Helvick Head RNLI Assists Three Boaters in Broken Down Cabin Cruiser

21st April 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday afternoon (21 April), the RNLI Helvick Head was called to rescue three boaters who got into difficulty near Helvick Head, southwest of Dungarvan. The Irish Coast Guard requested the assistance of the volunteer crew who launched their inshore…

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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