RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The jetski was retrieved by Portrush Lifeboat

Jetski Kill Cord Incident at Benone Beach on the North Coast

20th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Yesterday evening Coleraine Coastguard responded to a report of a person falling from a Jetski at Benone Beach. This popular Blue Flag beach stretches for over seven miles on the North Coast, from Downhill westwards to where it meets Magilligan…

Lough Derg RNLI with the 21-yacht aground

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 21ft Yacht Aground by Jushing Rocks

19th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI assisted 2 people on a 21ft yacht aground by Jushing Rocks, west of the Scilly Islands on the Ogonoloe shore in County Clare. Earlier this evening, Sunday, July 19, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to…

Crosshaven RNLI off Roches Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour

Crosshaven RNLI Assist Powerboat with Two Persons Onboard

19th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteers of Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat were paged at 5.51 pm this evening (Saturday 19 July) to go to the aid of a broken-down vessel, East of Power Head at the entrance to Cork Harbour. The lifeboat with Ian Venner…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Assist Three People on a 35ft Yacht off Dublin Bay

18th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

At 10:21 am today (Saturday 18 July), Dublin Coast Guard requested Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI to assist three people on board a 35ft yacht which had its propeller fouled approximately two miles of the Dublin coast. The all-weather lifeboat was…

First ‘Shout’ for Lifeboatman Peter During Late Night Callout for Wicklow RNLI

17th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI Volunteer Peter Byrne participated in his first callout as Wicklow all-weather lifeboat launched shortly after 10:05 pm on Wednesday night (15 July), after a member of the public reported seeing a windsurfer having problems getting ashore near Brittas Bay…

File image of Sligo Bay RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Sligo Bay Lifeboat Launches To Swimmer In Difficulty At Rosses Point

17th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Sligo Bay RNLI was involved in the rescue of a swimmer in difficulty at Rosses Point earlier this week. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 8pm on Wednesday evening (15 July) to go to the aid of…

Baltimore RNLI Carry Out Medical Evacuation from Sherkin Island

17th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out to provide a medical evacuation late last night (Thursday 16 July) from Sherkin Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew, under Coxswain Kieran Cotter, launched their all-weather lifeboat at 11.50…

File image of Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Newcastle Lifeboat Brings Three To Safety In Two Separate Callouts

16th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI lifeboat crew in Newcastle, Co Down rescued three people over two callouts in the space of 24 hours earlier this week. The all-weather lifeboat first launched on Monday morning (13 July) to aid a boat with two people…

Oban RNLI volunteer Dr Colin Wilson is stepping down

Oban Lifeboat Crew Thankful To Long-Serving Member Upon His Retirement

15th July 2020 Scottish Waters

Oban RNLI in western Scotland has expressed sadness at the retirement of Dr Colin Wilson as a volunteer crew member. Dr Wilson has served the RNLI in Oban since 1990, first joining when the station had the Brede class lifeboat…

Baltimore RNLI’s Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat

Support The ‘Race To Raise’ For Baltimore Lifeboat

14th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Two Baltimore women are running a virtual relay race around Ireland for their local lifeboat, after the annual charity walk was cancelled over coronavirus restrictions. Anna Carthy and Odharnait Collins are now on day three their ‘Race to Raise’ in…

For sale: One Seal 22 in aid of the RNLI

Cork Couple Donate Boat to Union Hall RNLI to Raise Funds to Save Lives at Sea

14th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Thanks to the generosity of Ivon and Jane Roberts from Rosscarbery, County Cork, you now can be the next owner as the couple has donated their boat Decade to Union Hall RNLI. Ivon and Jane bought Decade on their tenth…

A towline was established and the yacht with two sailors was brought safely alongside the East pier at Wicklow harbour

Yacht with Two Onboard Brought to Safety by Wicklow RNLI

12th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A 20ft sailing yacht with two people onboard was brought to safety by Wicklow RNLI this afternoon (Sunday 12 July). The inshore lifeboat launched at 11:45 am with Graham Fitzgerald (helm) and crew Alan Goucher and John Stapleton to reports…

File image of Kinsale RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Miss Sally Anne Baggy II

Kinsale Lifeboat Rescues Four On Motor Vessel In Poor Weather

12th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A motorboat with four on board which was overcome by poor weather was towed to safety by Kinsale RNLI volunteers this past week. The inshore lifeboat Miss Sally Anne Baggy II was requested to launch shortly after 11.30am on Wednesday…

Baltimore RNLI at the East Skeam Medevac

Baltimore Lifeboat Crew Rescue Teenage Girl Who Fell Down Blow Hole On East Skeam Island

9th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out to a medical evacuation earlier this evening (Thursday 9 July) after a teenage girl fell nearly 10 metres down a blow hole on East Skeam Island, off the coast of Baltimore in West Cork. The…

Lough Ree RNLI Brings Drifting Motor Cruiser to Safety at Portrunny Harbour

6th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI brought a drifting motor cruiser to safety on Saturday night. At 9.35 pm on Saturday, (4 July) Lough Ree RNLI volunteers were requested by Malin Head Coast Guard to reports of a motor cruiser adrift near Portrunny…

Arranmore RNLI Coxswain Jimmy Early with his son Lee

RNLI’s ‘Launch a Memory’ Campaign to See West of Ireland Lifeboat Remember 10,000 Loved Ones

6th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A new all-weather RNLI lifeboat, which will be permanently based at Clifden in Connemara, will proudly carry the names of up to 10,000 people, placed on it by their loved ones. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, which will be built…

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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