RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Irish Coast Guard & RNLI Issue Joint Water Safety Call This Christmas

21st December 2018 Coastguard

The Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI, in the run-up to the Christmas period, are reminding the public to look after their personal safety when engaged in any water or coastal based activities. They have issued a joint safety message…

Swimmers take a festive dip in the North Sea at Newbiggin by the Sea

RNLI Urges Christmas Swimmers To Stay Safe Before They Dive In

20th December 2018 Water Safety

#WaterSafety - For many in Ireland a festive dip in the sea is part of a Christmas tradition. But the RNLI reminds anyone planning for a seaside swim next week that the sea is at its coldest, and potentially most…

Ballyglass RNLI in 11 and a Half Hour Call Out to Rescue Fishermen After Boat Breaks Down

4th December 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers from Ballyglass RNLI spent 11 and half hours at sea today to bring three fishermen to safety off the Donegal coast. The lifeboat crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 4 am yesterday morning following a request…

Lough Ree RNLI Launch to a Person Seeking Refuge from Storm Diana

28th November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers from Lough Ree RNLI launched during Storm Diana to assist one person near St Johns Wood. At 10.35 this morning (Wednesday, 28 November 2018), Lough Ree RNLI volunteers were contacted by a gentleman who had sought refuge the previous…

File image of Crosshaven RNLI’s inshore lifeboat John and Janet

Crosshaven Lifeboat Rescues Man Whose Lifejacket Failed To Inflate

28th November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

A man who fell overboard from his vessel near Cork Harbour was lucky to escape relatively unscathed after his lifejacket failed to inflate. Crosshaven’s volunteer RNLI crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 5.20pm yesterday evening (Tuesday 27…

Liam O'Connell was among the RNLI volunteers who helped rescue 30 crew from the shipwrecked Astrid, pictured here in July 2016

Kinsale Lifeboat Volunteer Jailed On Drugs Charges

26th November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

One of the Kinsale RNLI volunteers honoured for their role in the rescue of 30 crew from the tall ship Astrid in July 2013 has been jailed for seven years on drug distrubution charges. As The Irish Times reports, Liam O’Connell was…

Geoff Johnston presents his painting to Larne RNLI coxswain Frank Healey

Local Artist Presents Larne RNLI With Lifeboat Painting

18th November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Last Thursday evening (15 November) Larne RNLI lifeboat crew and station management welcomed Geoff Johnston and his wife Caroline to the station. Geoff’s hobby is painting and the artist presented the lifeboat crew with an incredible painting of their all-weather lifeboat, Dr…

Lough Ree RNLI Assist Two People Onboard Barge

13th November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI assisted two people on a barge that had run aground in Hudson Bay. At 6.03pm yesterday (Monday,12 November) Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked by the Irish Coast Guard in Malin Head to a barge,…

Volunteer crew from Lough Derg RNLI and members of the Lough Derg RNLI Fundraising Committee with Robert Spier (right)

Lough Derg RNLI Gets New Atlantic 85 B911 Lifeboat 'Jean Spier'

13th November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s new lifeboat, the Atlantic 85 B911 Jean Spier arrived at the Station yesterday. On Saturday, November 10, the Naming Ceremony for the new lifeboat, the Jean Spier, took place at the RNLI Lifeboat College at Poole in…

Fenit & Kilrush RNLI Involved in Major Search & Rescue Operation for Windsurfer Missing for Seven Hours

12th November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Fenit and Kilrush RNLI were involved in a major multi-agency search and rescue operation last night for a windsurfer who was missing at sea for seven hours. Fenit RNLI was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 5.34pm yesterday evening…

Bundoran RNLI approaching the surfer off Rougey Point

Bundoran Lifeboat Helps Surfer Safely To Shore

12th November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#Lifeboats - Bundoran’s RNLI crew assisted a surfer safely to shore on Saturday afternoon (10 November). The volunteers launched after a member of the public raised the alarm, having spotted someone they thought to be in difficulty and waving their…

The French tourist is taken to a waiting ambulance

Red Bay RNLI Assist French Tourist with Broken Ankle after Fall at Kenbane Head

2nd November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Red Bay RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was launched this afternoon (Friday 2 November) following reports that a French tourist had sustained a broken ankle after falling on rocks at Kenbane Head near Ballycastle, North Antrim. Two members of Ballycastle coastguard and…

Dunmore East RNLI tows the trawler clear of the rocks

Dunmore East Lifeboat In Early-Hours Rescue Of Five Fishermen After Trawler Runs Aground

2nd November 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#Lifeboats - Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Thursday 1 November) to a 23m fishing trawler that had run aground with five people onboard half a mile south-west of Dunmore East Harbour. At 2.06am,…

The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations with 46 in Ireland, such as the above in County Wicklow. The RNLI is independent of Coast Guard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service

RNLI Issue Statement Following €6 million Irish Bequest

31st October 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI is deeply grateful and humbled by the generosity of Mrs Elizabeth O’Kelly to bequeath over €6 million in her will to the charity. Gifts in wills, be they large or small, are vital to the charity’s work in…

Carrybridge RNLI attend at the grounding scene

Carrybridge RNLI Assist Boat with one person on board Which Had Run Aground

29th October 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 5.27pm on Sunday 28 October, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards and Rescue Water Craft (RWC) launched following a request by Belfast Coastguard to assist a vessel with one person on board which had run aground…

The lifeboat arrived with the casualty vessel and once on board assessed the vessel for water ingress and none was found.

Carrybridge RNLI Assist Boat with Three People on Board Which Had Run Aground

21st October 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 16:15pm on Friday 19 October, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards and Rescue Water Craft (RWC) launched following a request by Belfast Coastguard to assist a vessel with three persons on board which had run aground…

Start
Prev
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
Next
End

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