RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Oireachtas Library Highlights Early 19th-Century Pamphlet Calling for an Irish Lifeboat Service

25th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

This month the Oireachtas Library has been displaying an 1807 pamphlet by Reverend William Liddiard (1773–1841), calling for the establishment of an organised lifeboat service along the Irish coast. Rev Liddiard was writing in response to the sinking of two…

Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams

Late-Night Callout for Wicklow RNLI to Assist Sailors on Yacht with Engine Failure

24th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams launched shortly after 11 pm tonight (Friday 23 July) following a Coast Guard pager alert, to investigate reports of a yacht in difficulties off the Wicklow Coast. The Shannon class lifeboat located…

The inshore RNLI lifeboat Jean Spicer on Lough Derg as a thunderstorm looms overhead on Friday 23 July

Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches Twice to Vessels With Engine Troubles During Thunderstorm

24th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s volunteers were called out twice yesterday afternoon (Friday 23 July) to assist two separate cruisers with engine issues as a thunderstorm brewed. At 3pm the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker and crew Keith…

The RNLI Lifeboat Station at Galway was established in 1995 because of the increasing number of search and rescue incidents in the area. Today the station operates an inshore B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat

Galway Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Tows Drifting Vessel to Safety

23rd July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Galway RNLI towed a 20-foot half-decker that got into difficulty off Barna to safety last evening. The pleasure/fishing vessel experienced mechanical issues after it left Galway docks and started drifting. The crew contacted the Irish Coastguard which then tasked the…

File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Two After Boat Breaks Down on Strangford Lough

22nd July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI launched to the aid of two people early yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 21 July) after their leisure boat broke down and was left adrift at the Narrows on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. The volunteer lifeboat crew’s pagers sounded…

Ballyglass RNLI launch to capsized jet ski in Blacksod Bay

Capsized Jet Ski Leads to Ballyglass RNLI Launch in Blacksod Bay

21st July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballyglass RNLI’s inshore lifeboat in northwest Mayo was requested to launch yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 20 July) by the Irish Coast Guard to assist two people on a jet ski in difficulty between Doolough and Claggan in Blacksod Bay. The volunteer…

Aran Islands RNLI all-weather Severn class lifeboat

Aran Islands RNLI Comes to the Aid of Cyclist after Fall

20th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI's volunteer crew came to the aid of a cyclist who fell off his bike today (Monday 19 July). The crew were asked to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat at 12.19 pm. A male visitor to the…

Lough Ree RNLI crew are busy as several craft experience difficulties on lake

Lough Ree RNLI Crew on Alert as Several Craft Experience Difficulties on the Lake

20th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew has had a busy five days coming to the rescue of 24 people and a dog on five boats that ran aground on the lake in the past week. After 9 pm last evening (Monday…

File image of Newcastle RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Four Callouts in Busy Friday For Newcastle Lifeboat Crew

19th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Newcastle RNLI in Northern Ireland had a busy Friday (16 July) with four callouts within a span of 20 hours. The volunteer crew were first requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 2.36am on Friday morning to assist two men…

Fire on a vessel on Lough Derg was brought under control by Portumna Fire Service

Motor Cruise Blaze on Lough Derg: Five Rescued

18th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

As Afloat reported earlier Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch following a Mayday call to assist five people on board a 38ft cruiser on fire, by Castle Harbour, Portumna, at the most northern end of Lough Derg.…

Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launched to a swimmer in difficulty on Sunday 18 July

Lifeboat Launches to Swimmer in Difficulty in Youghal Harbour

18th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI’s volunteer crew responded to their pagers just after 3pm today (Sunday 18 July) to a report of a swimmer in difficulty between The Mall and Greenhole beaches in Youghal Harbour. Arriving on scene within minutes on their inshore…

Fethard RNLI's D-Class lifeboat Naomh Dubhán

Fethard RNLI Lifeboat Respond to Person in Trouble in Jet Ski Incident

18th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI were requested to launch their lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard yesterday afternoon (Saturday 17 July) at 5.34 pm, to assist a person in difficulties on their jet ski. The crew launched the D-Class…

The 11-metre yacht had machinery failure and was towed to Dingle Marina

Valentia RNLI Assist a Yacht with Two People Onboard off Dingle

18th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Valentia RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat yesterday (Saturday 17 July) to assist an 11-metre yacht with two people onboard, which required assistance. At 4.46 pm the Valentia Coast Guard requested Valentia RNLI’s volunteer crew to launch the all-weather lifeboat…

Ballycotton RNLI were involved in a multi agency search for a report of a boat on fire

Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat Launched to Report of Possible 'Boat on Fire' Between Knockadoon & Ballycotton Island

17th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Yesterday evening (Friday 16 June) at 9.08 pm Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat, the Austin Lidbury was tasked by Valentia Coast Guard to report a boat on fire in the bay between Knockadoon and Ballycotton island. Conditions were very…

File image of Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer

Lifeboat Launches to Family of Four Aboard Cruiser Aground on Lough Derg

15th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

A family of four were aided by Lough Derg RNLI after their cruiser ran aground on a shoal south of the Corragheen Islands. The inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer launched shortly after 6pm yesterday (Wednesday 16 July) and was on scene…

The lifeboat located the stranded man on the Calf Rock and immediately launched a small dinghy to retrieve him. The lifeboat then proceeded west to the Bull Rock and again launched its Y boat to retrieve the man’s dog. Both man and dog were reunited on board the lifeboat.

Man & Dog Stranded Overnight on Rock Rescued by Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat

14th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI were launched this morning (Wednesday 14th July 2021) just before 9.00 a.m. to go to the immediate assistance of a kayaker who had become stranded yesterday evening on the Calf Rock and then went on to rescue his…

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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