RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Portrush RNLI assist with the rescue of a man who fell on rocks near Dunluce Castle

Cave Faller Rescue Caps Off Busy Week For Portrush Lifeboats & North Coast Lifeguards

25th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - It was another busy day for North Coast lifeboat volunteer crews as both Portrush RNLI lifeboats were launched for the second time in 24 hours yesterday evening (Sunday 24 July). The all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched at 5.30pm…

Skerries RNLI recover their Atlantic 85 lifeboat after the callout

Skerries Lifeboat Launches To Swimmer In Difficulty

25th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI volunteers launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat on Saturday afternoon (23 July) after Dublin Coast Guard received a call from a concerned member of public about a swimmer in difficulty. The lifeboat launched shortly after 12.30pm…

Bangor RNLI towing the broken down motorboat to Carrickfergus

Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Two After Motorboat Breakdown

24th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - At 7:30am yesterday morning (Saturday 23 July), Bangor RNLI was requested by HM Coastguard to attend a boat off Carrickfergus in Belfast Lough, following the firing of a red distress flare. On arrival at the scene, the volunteer…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI Called to Two Incidents on Busy Saturday Afternoon

24th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

While out on a weekly lifeboat exercise Rosslare RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were called out by the Coast Guard to two separate incidents. The first incident, which occurred close to the Burrow point at Rosslare Strand, involved a small dog…

Skerries RNLI rescuing four men after their speedboat drifted onto rocks at Colt Island

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Four From Speedboat On Rocks

22nd July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 21 July) after Dublin Coast Guard received a call from a vessel that had suffered engine failure near the islands off the North Co Dublin coastal town. The lifeboat launched shortly after…

Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Boys Trapped On Rocks

21st July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - It was just a routine exercise for Bangor RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew on Sunday night (17 July) until they got the call to rescue two young boys who were cut off by a rising tide while fishing at…

Red Bay RNLI prepares to tow the 40ft yacht to Cushendall

Early Callout For Red Bay Lifeboat To Tow Yacht Stranded In Fog

20th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Red Bay RNLI was paged at 6am this morning (Wednesday 20 July) to go to the aid of a 40ft yacht, with two people on board, after the vessel suffered engine failure and was unable to move. The…

Wicklow RNLI's all-weather and inshore lifeboats at sea

Wicklow Lifeboats Launch To Capsized Laser Off Greystones

20th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats launched on Monday afternoon (Monday 18 July) after the Irish Coast Guard received a report of a capsized boat drifting off Greystones. The inshore lifeboat was first on scene and located the upturned Laser yacht,…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Assist Seven people on 15–ft RIB

20th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched at 10.20pm yesterday evening to assist seven young people on board a 15ft–RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with engine difficulties near Coolbawn Quay, on the eastern shore of Lough Derg. Winds were westerly, Force 3, visibility…

Fethard Lifeboat Launches Twice In 24 Hours To Woodstown Strand

19th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Monday 18 July) for the second time in 24 hours, to a report of four people in difficulty due to dense fog at Woodstown Strand. The Irish Coast Guard received a report that…

L-R RNLI Lifeguards, Bosco McAuley, Ali Boyd and Stephen Parish pictured yesterday in front of the RNLI Rescue Water Craft following the rescue at Whiterocks

RNLI Lifeguards Rescue Body Boarders in Swell at Whiterocks Beach

18th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

In a dramatic rescue on Whiterocks beach at Portrush in County Antrim yesterday three RNLI lifeguards rescued two body boarders from rocks. In waves that reached well over head height the lifeguards launched their Rescue Water Craft and brought the two…

Crosshaven RNLI comes to the aid of the grounded yacht

Crosshaven Lifeboat Rescues Yachtsman After Vessel Runs Aground In Fog

18th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A major search was mounted on the south coast between Crosshaven and Kinsale on Friday (15 July) after a lone yachtsman broadcast a Mayday call that he was on the rocks at the Little Sovereign Rock. Lifeboat pagers…

Fethard Lifeboat Launches To RIB With Fouled Propeller

18th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI's inshore lifeboat Tradewinds launched yesterday afternoon (Sunday 17 July) to a 6m RIB with a fouled propeller off Woodstown Strand in Waterford. The RIB got into difficulty when its propeller became entangled in mussel cages within…

Dunmore East RNLI assist the stricken yacht outside the harbour

Dunmore East RNLI Assists Yacht With Fouled Sails

17th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI's lifeboat crew launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 16 July) to assist a 38ft yacht with four people on board. The sailing vessel, half a mile east of Dunmore East Harbour, had…

Donaghadee RNLI's all-weather lifeboats Saxon

Donaghadee RNLI Rescues Stricken Yacht As Darkness Falls

17th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Donaghadee RNLI's lifeboat crew saved a stricken yacht with one person onboard after it was left helpless in poor weather off the coast of Millisle, Co Down. Donaghadee lifeboat Saxon and her volunteer crew sped to the last…

Howth RNLI All weather lifeboat tows the yacht. See video below.

Howth RNLI Rescue Yacht Aground with 7 People Onboard

15th July 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched at 1.15pm Thursday 14th July 2016 to reports of Sailing Yacht with 4 adults and 3 children aground just off Ireland Eye. The casualty vessel was quickly located and towed to safety. The request to launch came…

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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