RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The lifeboat returning to Courtmacsherry pontoon with casualty on board

Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Windsurfer 1km Offshore Near Old Head of Kinsale

31st January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry All-Weather Trent Class RNLI Lifeboat was called out this afternoon at 4.10 pm at to go to the immediate aid of a windsurfer who got into difficulty over one kilometre from shore off Garrylucas Strand near the Old…

The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Crew involved in this evenings callout were Coxswain Sean O'Farrell, Mechanic Stuart Russell and crew Ken Cashman, Paul McCarthy, Dave Philips and Evin O'Sullivan.

Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat in Callout to Person Requesting Assistance on Boat in Clonakilty Harbour

29th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry All-Weather Trent Class RNLI Lifeboat was called out this Friday evening to assist a man who was in difficulty on board a boat in Ring Harbour near Clonakilty, West Cork. The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat under Coxswain Sean O'Farrell and…

The new berth for Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat

Inland & Coastal Marina Systems Install New Berth for Dunmore East RNLI’s All-Weather Lifeboat

28th January 2021 Irish Marinas

Working for the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine, Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre and liaising closely with the RNLI, Inland and Coastal Marina Systems (ICMS) has designed, manufactured and installed a new berth for Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather Trent…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI came to the rescue of a dog that slipped on the Harbour's marina breakwater

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Inshore Lifeboats Rescues Dog From Marina Breakwater

26th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour's RNLI lifeboat crew came to the rescue of a dog that slipped off the Dun Laoghaire Marina Pier and onto the rocks below this morning. The volunteer crew of three launched swiftly at 11:35am and made their…

Donaghadee Lifeboat Takes Ill Seaman off Cargo Ship at Mouth of Belfast Lough

25th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Last Saturday (23rd) Donaghadee's Trent class lifeboat, Saxon, with RNLI Doctor Andrew Jackson on board answered a call by HM Coastguard to attend a cargo ship at the mouth of Belfast Lough. Donaghadee lies on the north County Down coast…

Types of waves and how they can affect sea swimmers will be discussed in tonight's talk series

Weather & Waves for Open Water Swimmers Theme of First in New Talk Series

25th January 2021 Sea Swim

Sea swimming weather and wave safety is the theme of an online talk tonight - the first in a new series hosted by Swim Ireland and the RNLI. In response to the surge in interest in open water swimming during…

Skerries RNLI volunteers watch as Rescue 116 prepares to winch the casualties

Busy Weekend of Callouts for Skerries Lifeboat Volunteers

24th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI’s volunteer crew had a busy weekend responding to calls to stranded walkers on Friday (22 January) and a missing swimmer today (Sunday 24 January). Shortly before 4.30pm on Friday afternoon, Dublin Coast Guard tasked Skerries RNLI following a…

Youghal RNLI in Early Morning Search for Missing Person

21st January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI Volunteer lifeboat crew were paged and tasked at 5.57 am this morning by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to a report of a missing person in Youghal Harbour. Launching at 6.08 am in freezing conditions, the lifeboat…

Howth RNLI tow home a fishing boat with mechanical problems

Howth RNLI Rescue Fishing Boat with Mechanical Problems

18th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched the all-weather lifeboat to rescue a 21-foot fishing boat with two people onboard after it suffered mechanical failure just off Rush Co. Dublin The RNLI pagers sounded at 2.52 pm on Monday 18th January to reports of…

Skerries RNLI approaching the razor fishing vessel in the dark

First Rescue of 2021 for Skerries Lifeboat as Razor Boat is Towed to Safety

17th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI carried out their first rescue of the new year in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 16 January), towing a razor fishing boat with two men on board to safety. Shortly before midnight on Friday, Dublin Coast…

Kayakers in Trouble, People on Rocks; Youghal RNLI Tasked Twice in One Evening

16th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Youghal RNLI were tasked this evening (16 January 2021) to reports of people seen on the rocks near Easter point, while conducting the search they were tasked to reports of kayakers in trouble near Capel Island.…

Wicklow RNLI all-weather lifeboat towing the fishing vessel into Wicklow harbour

Wicklow RNLI Brings Three Fishermen To Safety off the Codling Bank

13th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI brought three fishermen to safety this morning (Wednesday 13 January), after their vessel got into difficulties off the Wicklow coast. The all-weather relief fleet lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams put to sea shortly before 9:15 am under…

John McKenna with his RNLI long service medal

Howth Lifeboat Station’s John McKenna Awarded RNLI Long Service Medal

12th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth Lifeboat Station Community Safety Officer John McKenna has been awarded a long service medal by the RNLI. In 2020, McKenna (73) reached a milestone: 21 years of volunteering for the RNLI and saving lives at sea. He has been…

Peter Bullick with his long service medal

Bangor RNLI's Safety Man Peter Bullick Awarded Long Service Medal

12th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Peter Bullick is well known in sailing circles in Northern Ireland and has long been a familiar face associated with volunteering for the RNLI. He enjoys cruising to the west coast of Scotland and has ventured as far as St…

Tramore RNLI Recover Swimmer in Difficulty

10th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The crew of Tramore RNLI and Tramore Coastguard in County Waterford were tasked to assist a swimmer in difficulty this afternoon close to the Guillamene Cove. The swimmer was rescued from the rocks by the RNLI crew and brought immediately…

Howth RNLI Rescue Fishing Trawler & Crew After Running Aground

8th January 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched the all-weather lifeboat to rescue a fishing trawler, six people, onboard after it ran aground on rocks in Balscadden Bay, at Howth in County Dublin. The RNLI pagers sounded at 4.12 pm on Thursday 7th January to…

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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