RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

File image of Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Carrybridge Lifeboat Rescues Four People and Two Dogs After Vessel Runs Aground

20th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards was afloat on a training exercise on Sunday morning (18 August) when the volunteer crew came across a 13-metre vessel with four people and 2 dogs on board, which had run…

The congregation at Kilodiernan Church in Puckane for the ecumenical service of thanksgiving for the Lough Derg Yacht Club Regatta, 200 years of the RNLI and 20 years of the Lough Derg lifeboat

Lough Derg RNLI Celebrated in Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving

19th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday morning (18 August), as part of an ecumenical service of thanksgiving for the Lough Derg Yacht Club Regatta at Kilodiernan Church in Puckane, the Nenagh Union of Parishes included a celebration of the RNLI’s 200 years of lifesaving…

Clogherhead RNLI's all-weather Shannon class lifeboat

Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat Assists Ill Fisherman off Port Oriel

18th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday, August 18, the Coast Guard tasked Clogherhead RNLI volunteers with coming to the aid of a fisherman onboard a fishing vessel who needed medical care. At 2.55 a.m. Clogherhead lifeboat received a request from the Irish Coast Guard…

The new lifeboat station at Arranmore RNLI

Arranmore RNLI Welcomes New Coxswain, Crew and Lifeboat Station in Busy Period

17th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Arranmore RNLI has been having a busy time responding to emergency call-outs, organising the official opening of the new boathouse, saying goodbye to the coxswain after 51 years of service welcoming a new coxswain and five new crew members. From…

Daniel Whelan is Clifden RNLI’s newest coxswain

First Call-Out for Clifden RNLI’s Newest Coxswain and Mechanic

16th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI’s call-out on Wednesday evening (14 August) for a medevac from Inishbofin was the first under the command of Daniel Whelan, since his passing out as coxswain a few weeks ago. Chris Nee also served as mechanic for the…

The Ballycotton RNLI's all-weather Trent class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury with the broken down yacht alongside

Ballycotton RNLI Rescues Yacht After Engine Failure

16th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat launched on Thursday, 15th August, after receiving a distress call from the skipper of a yacht. The vessel, which was en route from Wexford to Schull in West Cork, had suffered engine failure just a mile…

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat passes Ardnakinna Lighthouse, located on Bere Island, County Cork, at the western entrance to Castletownbere on its way to assist a fishing vessel with a damaged propellor

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat Assists Fishing Vessel With Damaged Propellor Shaft 18 Miles Out at Sea

14th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was called into action on Tuesday morning, August 13th, to aid a fishing vessel in distress located 18 miles southwest of the major West Cork fishing port. The Valentia Coastguard Maritime Coordination Rescue Centre requested assistance…

The Crosshaven RNLI crew pass Roches Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour

Crosshaven RNLI Rescue Cork Harbour Angler from 'Supermarket Dinghy'

13th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

On the evening of August 13th, the Coast Guard received a distress call from Roberts Cove, reporting a person in an inflatable dinghy waving for help. The Crosshaven RNLI volunteer crew in Cork Harbour, consisting of Warren Forbes, Gary Heslin, Caoimhe…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI brings the yacht safely under tow to Rosslare Europort

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Comes to Aid of Two on Yacht Taking On Water in Heavy Seas

13th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour RNLI, the Irish Coast Guard’s Rescue 117 helicopter crew from Waterford and a fishing boat crew came to the aid of two people onboard a yacht which was taking on water in heavy seas 20 miles south-east of…

Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea responded to two separate incidents involving vessels in distress at the weekend

Wicklow RNLI Assist Motorboat and Yacht in Weekend Incidents

13th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat volunteers were called to action over the weekend to respond to two separate incidents involving vessels in distress. The first incident took place on Saturday, August 10th, when both lifeboats were launched to investigate reports of a…

Portaferry RNLI received a cheque for £3,700 from Killyleigh Yacht Club

Portaferry RNLI Benefits From Summer Fundraising at Killyleagh Yacht Club

13th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI welcomed members of Killyleagh Yacht Club to the boathouse on Northern Ireland’s Ards Peninsila last week to present a cheque for £3,700 to help power the station’s lifesaving work at sea. The money was raised during the club’s annual…

A scene from 2023’s Emergency Services Open Day in Bundoran

Bundoran RNLI Set to Host Annual Emergency Services Open Day Later This Month

13th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI’s volunteers will once again team up with their emergency services colleagues to host the annual Emergency Services Open Day at the pier in Bundoran on Sunday 25 August from 1pm to 4pm. The popular free event, which attracts…

Enniskillen RNLI approaches the jet ski reported in difficulty near Lusty Beg

Enniskillen Lifeboat Comes to Aid of Jet Skier on Lower Lough Erne

12th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, the John and Jean Lewis, was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard at 5.51pm on Thursday last (1 August) following reports that a jet skier had got into difficulty close to Lusty Beg. The weather…

The scroll is visiting every lifeboat station in a relay-style event, and Saturday 10 August was the turn of Carrybridge on Lough Erne

Carrybridge Lifeboat Station Takes Part in RNLI’s 200th Anniversary Scroll Relay

11th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

On Saturday 10 August, RNLI representatives from Carrybridge RNLI in Northern Ireland, including from the retail and fundraising branch as well as the station’s water safety officer took part in the next stage of the RNLI’s ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay-style…

Skerries RNLI approaching an adult and two children on a paddle board on Friday 9 August

Skerries Lifeboat Launches Twice in Two Days to Paddle Boarders in Distress

11th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI volunteers responded to incidents involving inflatable paddle boards last Wednesday (7 August) and Friday (9 August), bringing three adults and four children to safety. On Wednesday, shortly after 3pm, Dublin Coast Guard received a 999 call from a…

File image of Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Newcastle Lifeboat Rescues Two on Broken-Down Yacht

11th August 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Leonard Kent was launched on Thursday evening (8 August) after the coastguard received a request for assistance from a yacht which had suffered engine failure. The volunteer crew were requested to launch at around 7.10pm following…

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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