RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The inshore Atlantic 85 class lifeboat with the two walkers at Omey Island

Clifden RNLI Assists Two Walkers Cut off by the Tide at Omey Island

12th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI came to the aid of two walkers who got cut off by the tide yesterday evening (Sunday 11 April). The volunteer crew were requested to launch the lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at 5.50 pm following a…

The RNLI lifeboats tow the abandoned GP14 dinghy back to shore at Youghal

Multi Rescue Agency Response off Youghal as Sailing Dinghies Capsize – Five People Rescued

6th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew with Youghal RNLI rescued five people from the water off Capel Island near Knockadoon in the Youghal Bay area this afternoon (Monday 5 April) when the two GP14 sailing dinghies they were in capsized leaving one adult…

Two Coastguard Rescue officers in water rescue equipment made their way out to the island

Seven Taken to Safety From Guns Island by Portaferry RNLI & Coastguard Teams

5th April 2021 Northern Ireland Waters

Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team was paged on Saturday along with Newcastle Coastguard after a report that seven people were stranded by the tide on Guns Island, off the southeastern County Down coast near Ballyhornan. Two Coastguard Rescue officers in water…

File image of Ballyglass lifeboat station

First Callout of 2021 for Ballyglass Lifeboat with Rescue of Boatman in Broadhaven Bay

3rd April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

In Co Mayo, Ballyglass RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launched to assist a fishing vessel in Broadhaven Bay in the station’s first callout of 2021. At 12.30pm yesterday (Friday 2 April) the Irish Coast Guard requested the volunteer crew to assist a…

Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams launching to the incident

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Assist Three Fishermen

1st April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams launched at 4:10 pm this afternoon following a launch request from the Coast Guard, to assist a 10-metre fishing vessel in difficulties ten miles offshore. The lifeboat crew located the stricken…

Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat being put into the water

Portrush Lifeboat Launches to Fishing Vessel in Difficulty Outside Harbour

1st April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI’s volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty just outside the Northern Ireland harbour yesterday evening, Wednesday 31 March. The 26-foot vessel with three on board lost power just outside the North…

Irish Coast Guard & RNLI Issue Water Safety Plea for Early Easter Holidays

1st April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard are urging people who will be spending time on or near the water during the Easter break to take note of the relevant water safety advice for their activity and to raise the…

File image of Larne RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Larne RNLI Encourages Coastal Caution Over the Easter Holidays

31st March 2021 Water Safety

With the Easter holidays now begun in Northern Ireland, Larne RNLI is encouraging anyone planning to visit the coast to know the risks to protect themselves and their families and to heed key sea safety advice. Larne RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI inshore boat at the Forty Foot on Dublin Bay

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescue Swimmer at the Forty Foot Bathing Place

31st March 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI rescued a swimmer in difficulty yesterday (Tuesday 30 March) who could not get back to shore. The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged following a report made to the Irish Coast Guard that a swimmer was believed…

File image of Lough Ree RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Lough Ree RNLI Cautions Safety On the Water Over the Easter Break & Beyond

30th March 2021 Water Safety

Lough Ree RNLI is urging the public using the River Shannon and Lough Ree to be safety conscious as they make the seasonal return to the waterway this weekend. The volunteer lifeboat crew at Lough Ree RNLI have, in line…

Skerries RNLI returning to station with the paddle boarders on board

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Two Paddle Boarders In Difficulty

29th March 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI rescued two stand-up paddle boarders after strong currents and Force 6 offshore winds prevented them from making their way back to shore. Shortly before 2.30pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 28 March), a retired Skerries RNLI volunteer noticed a man…

Newcastle RNLI Lifeboat Assists Kayakers in Dundrum Bay

27th March 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Newcastle RNLI volunteer crew launched the inshore D class lifeboat 'Eliza' at the request of Belfast Coastguard to assist three kayakers who were in difficulties in Dundrum Inner Bay yesterday morning. The bay lies on the south County Down coast…

Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams

Wicklow RNLI Tow Fishing Vessel with Steering Problems to Safety

25th March 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The all-weather relief fleet lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams put to sea shortly after 1:30 pm this afternoon (Wednesday 24 March) under the command of Coxswain Nick Keogh and a volunteer crew, following a launch request from the Coast…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI assist a small boat in Dalkey Sound

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Issues Water Safety Plea Ahead of Busy Season

24th March 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

One of the RNLI’s busiest lifeboat stations has urged the public to be water safety aware as they anticipate the increased demand for their services to continue. Lifeboat crew at Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI have seen their launch requests significantly…

The RNLI charity will deliver their usual lifeguard service across the Causeway Coast and in County Down this year

RNLI Northern Ireland Lifeguards Ready for a Summer of ‘Staycations’

23rd March 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI has been working with partners behind the scenes through the challenges of lockdown to recruit, train and prepare their lifeguards for what is expected to be another busy summer on Northern Ireland’s beaches. The charity will deliver their…

File image of Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Aran Islands Lifeboat Launches for Medevac from Neighbouring Island

22nd March 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s volunteer crew were asked to launch their all-weather lifeboat from Inis Mór last night (Sunday 21 March) for a local man on the neighbouring island of Inis Meáin who sustained a facial injury and was in need of…

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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