RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Swimmer Rescued By Wicklow Lifeboats Airlifted To Hospital

19th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats launched at 11.30am yesterday morning (Tuesday 18 August) after the Irish Coast Guard received a report of a swimmer in difficulties at the Long Rock near Silver Strand beach. The inshore lifeboat was quickly…

Courtmacsherry RNLI Rescue Five From Speedboat Near Kinsale Rocks

18th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat rescued five crew from a 22–ft speedboat off the Inner Barrel Rocks near the Old Head of Kinsale writes Vicent O'Donovan. The above picture shows the Lifeboat crew pumping out water from the speedboat. All…

Donaghadee Lifeboat Launched For Ferry Emergency In Belfast Lough

17th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A crew member on a cross-channel ferry was taken aboard the Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat Saxon after a medical emergency in Belfast Lough last Thursday night (13 August). RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew assisted as the woman was lowered from the…

Arklow Lifeboat Crew In Multi-Agency Rescue On Avoca River

17th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Following a pager alert at 9.25pm yesterday evening (Sunday 16 August), Arklow RNLI’s volunteers prepared to launch the all-weather lifeboat Ger Tigchlearr to assist in a search for a cyclist reported to have fallen into the Avoca River.…

Youngest Crewman To Open Donegal RNLI Lifeboat Centre

17th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – The honour of officially opening the RNLI's new All-Weather Lifeboat Centre at the charity's headquarters in Poole this Friday (21 August) will fall on the shoulders of the two youngest fully qualified all-weather volunteer lifeboat crew in the…

Union Hall Lifeboat In Late Night Search After Flare Sighting

14th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew launched last night (Thursday 13 August) after a member of the public reported a flare in the West Galley Head area and raised the alarm. Valentia Coast Guard tasked Union Hall RNLI…

Skerries Lifeboat Tows Yacht To Safety After Engine Failure

13th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI towed a yacht with two men on board to safety on Sunday evening (9 August) after the vessel suffered engine failure. At 7.30pm Skerries RNLI were tasked by Dublin Coast Guard to assist the small yacht…

Howth Lifeboat Launches To Seasick Solo Sailor

11th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Howth RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat on Sunday (9 August) to assist a 23ft sailing boat when its lone occupant became violently seasick and incapacitated. The lifeboat was launched at 8.15pm and located the casualty vessel just…

Portrush Lifeboat & Portstewart Lifeguards Assist Jetski Casualty

10th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Portrush RNLI and lifeguards at Portstewart Strand worked together yesterday (Sunday 9 August) to help a person who got into difficulty on a jetski. Portstewart lifeguards were first called to assist the jetski but because of the large…

Bundoran RNLI Assist Body Boarder in Difficulty

10th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – The crew of Bundoran RNLI lifeboat were called out on Sunday evening (9 August 2015) to a body boarder in difficulty at Rossnowlagh Beach. Following a 999 call to Malin Head Coast Guard, the crew were paged just…

Dismasted Yacht Rescued By Courtmacsherry Lifeboat

8th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was called out at 3pm this afternoon (Sat) to go to the aid of a 35–ft Yacht named Silver Breeze that was dismasted in strong winds and got into difficulties just one mile…

Busy Bank Holiday Weekend For Skerries RNLI

5th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI was busy over the Bank Holiday weekend with callouts on Saturday 1 and Monday 3 August - plus a visit to Rush for the annual blessing of the boat in between. Shortly after midnight on Saturday,…

Arklow Lifeboat Assists Four On Drifting Vessel During Maritime Festival

5th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arklow RNLI assisted four people after their vessel suffered engine failure on Sunday (2 August) during the Wicklow town's maritime festival. Pagers sounded during the busiest part of the Arklow Maritime Festival and just prior to a rescue exercise…

Howth RNLI Re-Float Yacht At Malahide Estuary Entrance

4th August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Howth RNLI launched both the All Weather Lifeboat and Inshore Lifeboat yesterday to reports of a sailing yacht with two men and two women aboard aground at the entrance to Malahide estuary.The all weather lifeboat was on scene…

Portrush Lifeboats Launched To Dinghy In Difficulty, Overturned Catamaran

3rd August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Portrush RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched yesterday (Sunday 2 August) to reports of a dinghy in difficulty at Portballintrae in Co Antrim. Conditions were good, with a stiff offshore wind and a relatively calm sea. The inshore lifeboat crew quickly…

Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Three After Boat Capsize

3rd August 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Three young adults had a lucky escape last night (Sunday 2 August) after their boat capsized off Calf Island at the northern end of Strangford Lough. The three had been out on an 11ft Dory when it broke…

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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