RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Bangor Lifeboat Launches To Rescue Woman After Coastal Path Fall

8th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Bangor RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were called out yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 7 June) to assist in the rescue a woman who had fallen from the coastal path at Ballyholme Esplanade onto the rocky beach below. The woman is…

Ballycotton RNLI taking the disabled yacht under tow

Ballycotton Lifeboat Lauches To Yacht In Difficulty

6th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI was launched around 6pm yesterday (Sunday 5 June) to a yacht in difficulty 10 miles off the East Cork coastal village. The 50ft yacht, carrying four people on board, got into difficulty when its propeller became…

Open Day At Lough Ree RNLI Next Saturday

5th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI is holding an open day at the lifeboat station at Coosan Point next Saturday 11 June from 12 noon to 4pm. All are welcome on the day to meet the crew, tour the station, see…

Lough Derg RNLI rescued nine people from a cruiser this afternoon

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 40ft–Cruiser Aground By Ryans Point

4th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

At 1.45pm today, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard, following a request for assistance from a cruiser with 9 people on board, which had grounded on rocks by Ryan's Point. The lifeboat, with helm…

Newcastle Lifeboat Launches In Leisure Craft Breakdown

3rd June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Newcastle RNLI brought two people to safety on Wednesday evening (1 June) after they got into difficulty off the Dundrum coast in Co Down. The volunteer lifeboat crew was alerted shortly before 8pm following a request by Belfast…

Lough Derg RNLI carry out an alongside tow of a motorboat grounded at Kylenoe Rocks last night

Motor Boat on Rocks Rescued By Lough Derg RNLI

30th May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched following a report of a vessel aground at Kylenoe Rocks at the north-eastern end of Lough Derg last night. At 7.01pm last night Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard, following…

Skerries RNLI tows a motorboat with engine difficulties to Howth

Skerries Lifeboat Tows Motorboat To Safety Off Malahide

29th May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI responded yesterday afternoon (Saturday 28 May) to reports of a motorboat adrift with engine difficulties some four miles east of Malahide Estuary. Skerries RNLI volunteers launched the lifeboat shortly before 2pm when Dublin Coast Guard tasked…

L-R) Donal O'Meara - President of Malahide Lions Club (MLC), Mary McNamara - Vice-President MLC, Christine Stanley MLC, Jacinta Harley Sub-Committee Chairperson MLC Rose Michael - Fundraising Chairperson Howth RNLI, Inspector Pat Kenny - Garda Band, Paul Douglas and Richard Killen, both MLC

Garda Band Helps Howth RNLI Lifeboat

28th May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Last Wednesday (25 May 2016) evening the Garda band took to the stage in Malahide Rugby Club to help raise funds for Howth RNLI and Malahide Lions Club charities. 150 people attended the event which raised over €2,000 for the…

Wicklow RNLI towing the stricken cruiser to safety

Wicklow Lifeboats Assist Two On Motor Cruiser

25th May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats launched after 7.20pm on Sunday evening (22 May) to assist two men in a small motor cruiser near Wicklow Head. A member of the public contacted the Irish Coast Guard after seeing the men…

Crosshaven RNLI's inshore lifeboat Miss Betty

Crosshaven Lifeboat Launches To Man Overboard From US Coast Guard Ship

25th May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Crosshaven RNLI launched to reports of a man overboard from a visiting US Coast Guard cutter off Cork Harbour yesterday morning (Tuesday 24 May). According to the station's Facebook page, the Crosshaven lifeboat was tasked alongside the local…

Skerries RNLI's inshore lifeboat Louis Simson

Skerries RNLI Seeks New Volunteer Crew Members

21st May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI is looking for new volunteer crew members to join its search and rescue service in North Co Dublin. The station currently has 18 lifeboat and three shore crew to cover its service on the north east…

Alex Ellis-Roswell with friends from Ballyglass RNLI

RNLI Marathon Walker Strides In Mayo Within Sight Of €25k Fundraising Target

21st May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Alex Ellis-Roswell recently walked into Mayo without any fanfare but with the sole aim to continue his marathon walk to raise funds for the RNLI, a charity close to his heart. The 23-year-old Kent native is well on…

Members of the Waves Music Festival committee with Fethard RNLI

Fethard RNLI Launches Major Festival For Lifeboat Appeal

21st May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Irish country music sensation Nathan Carter is set to headline the inaugural Waves Music Festival on Sunday 28 August 2016 at Loftus Hall in the historic coastal area of Hook Head. The family-themed day-long music event is being…

Kilmore Quay RNLI approaches the 20m trawler at the Smalls fishing grounds

Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Evacuates Injured Fisherman From Trawler

20th May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Kilmore Quay RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew were alerted at 1.43am yesterday morning (Thursday 19 May) to reports of an injured fisherman 40 miles offshore. The injured crewman was on board a 20m stern trawler fishing for prawns at…

Kilkeel Lifeboats Assists Injured Fisherman Off Down Coast

18th May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Kilkeel RNLI helped bring a fisherman to safety yesterday evening (Tuesday 17 May) after he was injured while fishing for prawns off the Co Down coast. The volunteer lifeboat crew was alerted at 4.50pm and requested by Belfast…

Skerries Lifeboat Assists Teen On Personal Water Craft

17th May 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI responded Sunday evening (15 May) to reports of a personal water craft in distress off the Martello tower in Loughshinny. Dublin Coast Guard tasked Skerries RNLI just after 6pm having receiving a 999 call about a…

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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