RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Deputy launching authority Brendan O’Driscoll (left) presents John Innes with a certificate of service

Retiring Youghal RNLI Volunteer Recognised For 30 Years Of Service

20th December 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteers of Youghal RNLI recently gathered at Berties bar in the East Cork town to mark the retirement of long-serving crew member John Innes. John first became involved in 1987 and was fully enrolled as a crew member by…

Lough Swilly, Portrush & Arranmore RNLI Rescue Five Fishermen in Storm Force Conditions (VIDEO)

16th December 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Swilly, Portrush and Arranmore RNLI volunteers spent almost 15 hours at sea in storm force conditions at the weekend to rescue five fishermen who got into difficulty off Fanad Head. Lough Swilly and Portrush RNLI were requested to launch…

Lifeboat volunteers from Ballycotton RNLI and Crosshaven RNLI

Cork Lifeboat Crews To Share Their Lifesaving Stories This Wednesday On RTÉ’s Nationwide

14th December 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crews from Crosshaven and Ballycotton RNLI in Cork will share their own stories of how they got involved with the lifesaving charity on TV for RTÉ One’s Nationwide this coming Wednesday 18 December. And the two stations will…

Santas taking the plunge at Sandycove for last year’s Santa Scuba Dive

Santa Scuba Dive Takes The Plunge For Lifeboats In Sandycove This Weekend

14th December 2019 Diving

Tomorrow at noon (Sunday 15 December) Scuba divers dressed in Santa suits will be ready to dive into the sea water off Sandycove for the annual Santa Scuba Dive. This unique Christmas event has raised over €12,000 for the RNLI…

Bundoran Lifeboat Volunteers Facing ‘Perfect Storm’ This Christmas

12th December 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The community lifesaving team at Bundoran RNLI well remember Christmas back in 1998, when two surfers were rescued off the coast of Tullaghan, Co Leitrim. The rescue was acknowledged by the RNLI with a written letter of commendation from the…

The RNLI Lifeboat at Crosshaven in County Cork

New Figures Reveal RNLI Volunteers Are Busier Than Ever Over the Festive Period

28th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

As Christmas approaches, the RNLI is issuing its own call for help as new figures show that the charity’s volunteer lifeboat crews are more than 600% busier over the festive period compared with 40 years ago. The charity is facing…

Dragon boats racing with the back drop of the Tall Ship Jeanie Johnston on the River Liffey

350 Rowers, 40 Boats, 3 Dragon Boats, 2 Barges, 1 Lifeboat, a Santa & The Biggest Currach in the World on the River Liffey

7th December 2019 Currachs

All In A Row 2019 came to the capital’s River Liffey last Saturday, 30th November, and challenged teams rowing 40 skiffs, kayaks, canoes and currachs to exceed a 1,000km target in eight hours in aid of the RNLI. As Afloat…

Swords Sailing & Boating club Vice Commodore Patrick Wodhams presents a cheque to Steven Harris of Howth RNLI

Swords Sailing & Boating Club Presents Cheque to RNLI

1st December 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Swords Sailing & Boating Club Vice Commodore Patrick Wodhams handed over a club burgee and a cheque for €710 to Howth RNLI on behalf of funds raised by club members today to the RNLI in Howth in County Dublin. The…

Book Launch For Story Of Baltimore’s Lifeboat Next Saturday

30th November 2019 Book Review

RTÉ’s Fergal Keane will be at Baltimore Sailing Club next Saturday 7 December for the launch of a new book celebrating 100 years of the West Cork village’s RNLI lifeboat service. Baltimore Lifeboat: A Community Story by Éamon Lankford is…

Portaferry RNLI Assist Workers Stranded on Island in Deteriorating Weather Conditions

26th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI came to the aid of three people stranded on Trasnagh Island near Whiterock at Killinchy on the western shore of Strangford Lough this afternoon, as the weather deteriorated. Portaferry’s volunteer crew launched promptly at 1.26 pm and made…

Valentia RNLI celebrate - Colum O'Connell (new Lifeboat Operational Manager), Richard Quigley (Valentia RNLI Cox), Richard Foran, Timothy Lyne and Leo Houlihan (Valentia RNLI Mechanic)

Valentia RNLI Celebrates Volunteers With Over 40 Years of Service

26th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Valentia RNLI volunteers, family and friends gathered last Saturday 23 November to honour two outstanding volunteers. The Kerry lifeboat station team honoured and thanked Richard Foran for his 20 years of dedicated voluntary service to Valentia RNLI. Richard took up…

Diarmaid Bird recently at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset

Fethard RNLI Lifesaver Learn Vital Skills Thanks to Million-Euro Training Fund

26th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A volunteer crew member at Fethard RNLI lifeboat station has had a vital part of their crew training funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Diarmaid Bird recently travelled to the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset, to complete the charity’s Crew Emergency…

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Assists Injured Sailor on Dismasted Yacht

24th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI volunteers were paged at 1.50 pm this afternoon to reports of a dismasted yacht with injuries off Fort Camden in Cork Harbour. According to the RNLI, the 32’ yacht with five persons onboard was a participant in a…

Stonehaven RNLI’s Atlantic 75 Miss Betty is lowered onto a trailer for transport to RNLI HQ in Poole

Stonehaven RNLI Bids Farewell To Last Serving Atlantic 75 Lifeboat In Scotland

22nd November 2019 Scottish Waters

It was a sad day this week as Stonehaven RNLI said goodbye to the last Atlantic 75 lifeboat in service in Scotland. The volunteer crew in Aberdeenshire watched as Miss Berry was winched out of the water to be transported…

Lough Ree RNLI together with Athlone Sub Aqua Club were honoured by the Municipal District of Athlone-Moate

Lough Ree RNLI Lifeboat Receive Civic Honour

21st November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI together with Athlone Sub Aqua Club have been honoured by the Municipal District of Athlone-Moate on behalf of Westmeath County Council. The recognition was awarded to the volunteers of Lough Ree RNLI and Athlone Sub Aqua Club…

The challenge is being undertaken with the aim of showcasing the River Liffey as one of Dublin’s best amenities while raising funds for the RNLI

High Tide on the River Liffey to Showcase All in a Row 8-Hour Marathon Challenge

19th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

All In A Row 2019 comes to the capital’s River Liffey on Saturday week, 30 November, challenging teams rowing 40 skiffs, kayaks, canoes and currachs to exceed a 1,000 km target in eight hours. The organisers are hoping to exceed…

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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