RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Swanage RNLI’s second coxswain Gavin Steeden wearing PPE

Demand on RNLI Lifeboat Crews Soared as Summer Lockdowns Eased in UK & Ireland, New Data Shows

17th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI says its volunteer crews faced an “unprecedented” summer as statistics reveal a big increase in callouts to people in distress compared to the same time last year. Based on provisional incident reports from lifeboat stations around the UK…

File image of Kilkeel RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Kilkeel Lifeboat Rescues Windsurfer Off Cranfield Point

16th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilkeel RNLI launched to the rescue a windsurfer who got into difficulty off Cranfield Point on Saturday (14 November). The volunteer crew set out on their inshore lifeboat at 3.25pm on Saturday as part of a multi-agency tasking that also…

Des Davitt has retired after 27 years volunteering with the RNLI

Wicklow RNLI Operations Manager Des Davitt Retires

16th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Operations Manager at Wicklow lifeboat Station since 2004, has retired after 27 years volunteering with the RNLI. Des joined the RNLI Wicklow committee in 1993, becoming vice chairman in 1995 and taking charge of all fundraising for the branch with…

Galway's Seaweed Point between Blackrock and Silverstrand which is accessed at low tide

RNLI Appeal to Walkers Not to Try to Swim Ashore if Caught by Tide After Galway Rescue

16th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Galway RNLI's deputy launching authority (DLA) has appealed to people not to try to swim ashore if caught in a tidal situation while walking. Paul Carey, DLA at the Galway station, issued his appeal after the rescue of a man…

RNLI Newcastle All-weather lifeboat Eleanor and Bryant Girling

RNLI Newcastle locates Missing Swimmer in Dundrum Bay (Updated)

14th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Just three days after the return of Newcastle RNLI station's D class lifeboat, Eliza, after a refit, in the late afternoon yesterday, Belfast Coastguard requested the immediate launch of the both the station's Lifeboats to reports of an overdue swimmer…

Dauntless Courage will be launched online in a panel discussion

Book Launch Celebrates ‘Dauntless Courage’ & the History of Dunmore East RNLI

13th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Radio presenter Damien Tiernan will lead an online panel discussion (Wednesday 25 November at 8 pm) with ‘Dauntless Courage’ author David Carroll and Dunmore East RNLI volunteer crew members. WLR FM radio presenter, former South East correspondent for RTE and…

Bangor RNLI's Atlantic 85 Jessie Hillyard

Bangor & Newcastle RNLI Welcome Their Lifeboats Home After Refit

13th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Last Tuesday saw the return of the Bangor RNLI's Atlantic 85 Jessie Hillyard from her refit on the Isle of Wight, where she has been since February. Her replacement, 'Vivacious Atlantic' served the station well in the interim but the…

Tynemouth RNLI attempts to tow the badly damaged trawler after the collision on Sunday afternoon

Fishing Boat Sinks After Collision with Cargo Ship Off England’s North-East Coast

10th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A fishing boat has sunk after a collision with a cargo ship off England’s North Tyneside coast. The incident occurred at 3.40pm on Sunday afternoon (9 November) just under a mile (1.6km) north of the Tyne piers. The skipper of…

File image of Kilrush RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat

Kilrush Lifeboat Launches to Capsized Catamaran in Shannon Estuary

9th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilrush RNLI’s volunteer crew were called out yesterday morning (Sunday 8 November) to a report of a capsized catamaran drifting near Corlis Point on the Shannon Estuary. The lifeboat crew launched within minutes of the 11.30am call and quickly reached…

Lough Derg RNLI Feature on BBC TV Series 'Saving Lives at Sea'

9th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew at Lough Derg RNLI will be taking to the small screen again on Tuesday 17 November at 8 pm, as they feature in the seventh episode of the BBC TV series Saving Lives at Sea. Real-life…

Launch of New Irish Children’s Book on Connemara is a Boost to Clifden Lifeboat Team

6th November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A new children’s book focusing on the local history and mythology of the North West Connemara region has been launched this week in Co Galway. And a portion of the proceeds is being donated to the Clifden RNLI lifeboats for…

Oban RNLI approaching the broken down fishing boat in Loch Etive

Oban Lifeboat Assists Fishing Vessel in Storm Aiden

1st November 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

As Storm Aiden brought its gale-force winds and driving rain from Ireland to western Scotland, Oban RNLI launched to assist a fishing vessel in distress in Loch Etive. The 22ft fishing boat, with four on board, had broken down west…

Baltimore RNLI on this morning’s medevac call

Baltimore Lifeboat Launches for Medevac from Heir Island

30th October 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide a medical evacuation this morning (Friday 30 October) from Heir Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 9.22am following a request from the Irish Coast…

Skerries RNLI approaching Shenick Island

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Father & Son Cut Off by Tide on Shenick Island

28th October 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A father and son were rescued by Skerries RNLI after they were stranded on Shenick Island by the rising tide yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 27 October). Pagers sounded for the lifeboat volunteers at 3pm and within minutes the Atlantic 85 inshore…

The busiest lifeboat station has been Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, with nearly 100 call outs for this year so far, according to the RNLI

Record Year for Rescues as People Turn to Coast & Waterways During Covid-19

28th October 2020 Rescue

Rescue agencies are reporting a record year for incidents on the water as thousands of people turned to the coastline, lakes and rivers during Covid-19. The Irish Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland have all been under pressure to…

RNLI Issue Water Safety Plea During Mid-Term Break

23rd October 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI has issued a plea for the public to take heed of important water safety advice as schools begin the mid-term break and the Government has introduced Level 5 restrictions to deal with Covid-19. With the Government restriction on…

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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