RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Skerries RNLI’s volunteer crew members observe the fire on shore

Skerries Lifeboat Responds To Reports Of Vessel On Fire

16th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched on Thursday evening (14 September) after the Irish Coast Guard received a number of calls reporting a vessel on fire north of Balbriggan. The lifeboat was tasked with volunteer Conor Walsh at the helm and…

Galway RNLI's inshore lifeboat on exercise

Galway Lifeboat Rescues Two Stranded By Tide On Hare Island

14th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Two people are recovering after being rescued by Galway RNLI when the tide trapped them on Hare Island, as the Connacht Tribune reports. The lifeboat launched at 6.41pm yesterday evening (Wednesday 13 September) to reports from passers-by on Renmore beach…

Larne RNLI volunteer crew member Fiona Kirkpatrick and fundraiser Alison Ford-Hutchinson meet Prince Harry

Larne Lifeboat Volunteers Rub Shoulders With Royalty At Hillsborough Garden Party

12th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Two couples who volunteer with Larne RNLI were chosen to represent the Co Antrim lifeboat station at the recent Hillsborough Garden Party where HRH Prince Harry was special guest. Lifeboat crew Fiona and Barry Kirkpatrick attended the event…

A Union Hall lifeboat volunteer boards the wayward yacht to establish a tow

Union Hall Lifeboat Aids Yacht On Rocks In Glandore Harbour

11th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI was requested to launch yesterday afternoon (Sunday 10 September) at 4.21pm by Valentia Coast Guard to reports of a yacht that had broken from its mooring in Glandore Harbour and was heading for rocks. Weather…

Wicklow’s all-weather lifeboat RNLB Annie Blaker launches to assist the yacht with a snapped forestay

Wicklow Lifeboat Tows Five On Damaged Yacht To Safety

11th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched shortly before 6pm on Saturday evening (9 September) to assist a 13m yacht in difficulties off the Wicklow coast. The yacht was on passage from Wales to Ireland when the forestay snapped on…

The Eric Rowse takes the stricken cruiser under tow to safe harbour at Coosan Point

Lough Ree Lifeboat Rescues Five On Cruiser Drifting Towards Rocks

10th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI were called to assist five people aboard a 20ft motor cruiser which had lost power and was drifting towards Nun’s Island yesterday afternoon (Saturday 9 September). The crew of inshore lifeboat The Eric Rowse were…

Photographer Jack Lowe visits his first Irish lifeboat station at Dunmore East

Acclaimed Photographer Tours Irish Lifeboat Stations With Victorian Camera

8th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - More than two years ago, Jack Lowe began an ambitious project to photograph every RNLI station with a Victorian-era camera. Now, having already photographed 88 of the 238 lifeboat stations in these islands, Jack Lowe has finally arrived…

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat in Early Morning Cork Harbour Search

5th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat volunteers pagers activated at 02.19am this morning for a Cork Harbour service that was to last over three hours. Valentia Coast Guard requested the crew to launch after a member of the public reported hearing continuous signaling by…

A volunteer crew member with Skerries RNLI spots a garda waving from shore

Skerries Lifeboat Launches To Report Of Stranded Fisherman

4th September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched on Saturday morning (2 September) to a report of a fisherman stranded on rocks near Balbriggan. Shortly after 11am, Dublin Coast Guard received a call from a member of the Garda that a sea angler…

The two men were successfully located about fifteen metres up the steep rock face

Red Bay RNLI Assist in Search for Two Missing Climbers on Fair Head

3rd September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

Red Bay RNLI all weather lifeboat launched last night (Saturday 2 September) at 10.10pm to assist in locating two missing climbers on Fair Head near Ballycastle. A Coastguard rescue helicopter from Scotland was also requested to join the search. Conditions…

Clifden RNLI lifeboat crew wishing Galway well for Sunday’s senior All-Ireland hurling final

Clifden RNLI Hoping for Galway Double as All-Weather Lifeboat Gets Go-Ahead

1st September 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew at Clifden RNLI are celebrating the news that their all-weather lifeboat is to be permanently allocated at the Connemara lifeboat station following a successful trial which has seen 50 launches by the lifeboat crew and 32 people…

Wicklow Lifeboat In Search For Overdue Kayakers

29th August 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched at 8.37pm last night (Monday 28 August) to search for an overdue kayak. The two kayakers on board were reported overdue to the Irish Coast Guard by a concerned relative after he lost…

Larne RNLI assisting a motor boat with engine difficulties on Wednesday 23 August

Three Launches In Three Days For Larne Lifeboats

28th August 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - It was a busy week for the volunteer crew at Larne RNLI last week with three launches for the Co Antrim lifeboats in three days. On Tuesday 22 August, Larne’s all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboat were launched following…

Carrybridge RNLI’s volunteer crew secure a rope to tow a cruiser with motor troubles off the rocks

Carrybridge Lifeboat Rescues Cruiser From Rocks

25th August 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Carrybridge RNLI’s lifeboat and rescue water craft were requested on Wednesday afternoon (23 August) to launch to a 30ft cruiser which had encountered fuel issues and drifted onto rocks on Upper Lough Erne. The casualty vessel, with two…

Lough Derg’s inshore lifeboat on callout to the grounded cruiser on Monday afternoon

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Six On Grounded Cruiser

23rd August 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launched on Monday afternoon (21 August) to assist six people after their 30ft cruiser ran aground behind the Corakeen Islands near Dromineer Bay. The lifeboat launched on request from Valentia Coast Guard with…

Wicklow’s inshore lifeboat crew bring the casualty ashore

Wicklow Lifeboat In Medevac For Injured Sailor

21st August 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launched yesterday afternoon (Sunday 20 August) to assist Wicklow Ambulance Service with the medevac of a sailor who sustained injuries while sailing in the bay. The lifeboat crew, comprising helm David O’Leary, Graham Fitzgerald…

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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