RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Newcastle RNLI Launches in the Early Hours to Sinking Fishing Vessel off Ardglass

29th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – Lifeboat crew at Newcastle RNLI were called out in the early hours of this morning Wednesday (29July) after a MAYDAY call was received from a fishing boat that was believed to have been involved in a collision with…

Portrush, Arranmore Lifeboats Tow Fishing Boats To Safety In Separate Callouts

29th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - RNLI lifeboats from Portrush in north Antrim and Arranmore in Donegal were launched yesterday evening (Tuesday 28 July) on separate callouts to assist fishing boats in difficult. The Portrush all-weather lifeboat was launched at 6pm to reports of…

Rosslare RNLI Launched After Large Yacht Becomes Entangled in Lobster Pots

29th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Rosslare RNLI launched yesterday afternoon to a 42ft yacht with two people onboard after the vessel became entangled in lobster pots close to Carnsore Point. Conditions this afternoon were described as showery with a south…

Clifden Lifeboats Responds To Two Callouts In Quick Succession

27th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI was busy at the weekend with two callouts in quick succession in the early hours of Sunday morning (26 July). The volunteer lifeboat crew was first alerted at midnight to a 29ft yacht reported adrift in…

Lough Derg Lifeboat Takes Cruiser Off Rocks

26th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#loughderglifeboat – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist eight people on board a 38ft cruiser aground near Dromane on the County Clare shore At 11.35am today, July 26, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched following a request from Valentia Coast…

Wicklow Lifeboats Aids Swedish Yacht With Fouled Propellor

25th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Following Thursday's callout to a yacht with engine trouble off Greystones, Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched at 3.45pm yesterday afternoon (Friday 24 July) to a Swedish registered yacht with a rope-fouled propeller, 10 miles north-east of Wicklow Harbour.…

Lough Ree Lifeboat Assists Family Of Four After Vessel Runs Aground

25th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Volunteers from Lough Ree RNLI assisted a family of four last week after the cruiser they were in ran aground. The crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 11.30am on Thursday 16 July following a report that…

Larne RNLI Welcome new D–Class Lifeboat Terry on Station

24th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Larne RNLI took their new D class lifeboat out on its first exercise to Brown's Bay last night (Thursday 23 July) following its arrival at the station. The lifeboat is to be named Terry and…

Wicklow Lifeboat Tows Yacht With Engine Trouble To Greystones

24th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched at 6.40pm yesterday evening (Thursday 23 July) to assist a yacht with mechanical problems. The 34ft English-registered yacht was on its way to Greystones at the time when the engine began overheating, requiring…

RNLI Lifeguards Treat Teenager After He Collapses on Whiterocks Beach

22nd July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI – RNLI lifeguards in Portrush have treated a teenage boy who collapsed on Whiterocks Beach this afternoon (Tuesday 21 July). At approximately 3.25pm, Senior Lifeguard Jamie Russell was on quad patrol of the beach when he observed one of…

Kilrush RNLI Launched to 36–ft Yacht Aground

19th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#kilursh – Kilrush RNLI launched to assist 36ft yacht with two persons on board that had run aground on a falling tide near the entrance to Kilrush Marina in County Clare. At the request of Valentia Coast Guard, 12.02am (Sunday…

Wicklow Lifeboats Launched To Assist Motor Cruiser

14th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats were launched just before 7pm on Sunday evening (12 July) to assist a motor cruiser at the south end of Brittas Bay beach. The owner of the motor cruiser contacted the Irish Coast Guard…

Baltimore Lifeboat In Medevac From Cape Clear Island

12th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI's lifeboat was launched at 11.38pm last night (Saturday 11 July) to convey a sick teenager from Cape Clear Island to Baltimore. The teen, who was suffering from an appendicitis, was transferred from the island aboard the…

Portaferry Lifeboat Helps Sailors To Safety On Strangford Lough

10th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The volunteer lifeboat crew at Portaferry RNLI were called out yesterday evening (Thursday 9 July) in response to a call to the emergency services.  A member of the public had reported that a small sailing boat, a…

Arklow, Howth Lifeboats Aid Stricken Sailing Vessels

10th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Following a lifeboat pager alert at 1.18pm yesterday afternoon (Thursday 9 July), Arklow RNLI's volunteer crew launched to a stricken sailing vessel. Within minutes of the alert, the lifeboat Ger Tigchleaar was en route from Arklow Harbour in…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Launches To Cruiser with Engine Failure

9th July 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist a person on board a 30ft–cruiser with engine failure by Terryglass Harbour, at the northern end of Lough Derg last night. At 11.55pm Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist 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