RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Union Hall Lifeboat Answers First Callout

20th November 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Last Thursday 13 November, Union Hall RNLI in West Cork responded to its first callout since becoming operational. The volunteer lifeboat crew Anthony Walsh, Lee Miles and Tim Forde launched their B Class Atlantic 75 lifeboat, Maritime Nation, at…

Teamwork Helps Tramore Lifeboat Bring Bull To Safety

19th November 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Tramore RNLI's volunteers were involved in a rescue operation with a difference recently when they worked alongside Tramore Coast Guard and Waterford Animal Welfare to bring a stranded bull to safety after he had fallen from a cliff…

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Completes 11 Hour Rescue of 120–Ton Fishing Vessel

17th November 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was called out at 10.40 am yesterday morning to go to the aid of a 90ft–fishing vessel that had got into difficulties while fishing 35 miles off the Coast of Seven Heads in…

Cork Athlete Derval O'Rourke Launches the Fota House RNLI Reindeer Run to Help Save Lives at Sea

5th November 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – World and European Medallist and three time Olympian Derval O'Rourke has joined forces with RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew and their children, to help launch the RNLI Reindeer Run, which raises funds for the charity that saves lives at…

Skerries Lifeboat Assists Stranded Periwinkle Pickers

28th October 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI assisted three periwinkle pickers who were in danger of being completely cut off by the rising tide on their return from Shenick Island last Friday evening (24 October). The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their Atlantic 85…

Reindeer Run Returns Next Month To Support Dublin's Lifeboats

25th October 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Due to popular demand, the RNLI Reindeer Run returns this year to raise funds for the lifeboat institution and its volunteer crews in Dublin. The charity event encourages people to have fun while supporting the RNLI in their…

Wicklow Lifeboat Launches To Fishing Vessel With Engine Failure

17th October 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched at 11.25am yesterday morning (Thursday 16 October) to assist a small fishing boat with engine failure. Speaking after the callout, lifeboat helm Graham Fitzgerald said: "We located the boat with two occupants drifting…

Dunmore East Lifeboat Assists Four On Boat With Engine Trouble

12th October 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI launched yesterday (Saturday 11 October) to assist four people on a 6m rigid inflatable boat, or RIB, that got into difficulty off the Waterford coast. The RIB, which was lost and suffering engine failure, was…

RNLI Prepare Plans for Permanent Lough Derg Lifeboat Station At Dromineer

6th October 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – The RNLI are inviting the public to a meetingabout plans for a permanent Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Station in Dromineer . The public will meet the architects/engineers at a consultation on the Station plans for Lough Derg. The meeting will…

Wexford Lifeboat Rescues Two From Water In Early Hours

4th October 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Two people were rescued by Wexford RNLI in the early hours of Friday morning (3 October) after one was seen entering the water in the county town's harbour and another, a trained lifeguard, entered to assist. The volunteer…

Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Two On Stricken Trimaran In Belfast Lough

1st October 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - At 5.25pm yesterday evening (Tuesday 30 September) the Bangor RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew received a request from Belfast Coastguard to assist two people onboard a 28ft trimaran-type yacht. The multihull vessel, consisting of a main hull and two…

Busy Weekend With Two Callouts For Bundoran Lifeboat

30th September 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The volunteer crew of the Bundoran RNLI lifeboat were called out twice over the weekend to two different incidents, both of which ended well. On Saturday afternoon (27 September) just after 1.40pm, the crew received a report that…

Arklow Lifeboat Rescues Stricken Offshore Powerboat

23rd September 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Following an alert by pager on Sunday 21 September, Arklow RNLI’s lifeboat Ger Tigchlear was launched within minutes to the aid of a powerboat with three persons aboard that was reported to be taking on water. In calm…

RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Cow That Fell From Waterford Cliff

21st September 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat in County Waterford rescued a cow on Saturday after she fell off a cliff and became stranded.The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat just before 4pm at the request of the Irish Coast Guard…

Rosslare Lifeboat Tows Stranded Cruiser To Safety

20th September 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI towed to safety an 8-metre motor cruiser that was stranded off the Wexford coast with three on board on Thursday evening (18 September). The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 9pm to go to…

Crosshaven Lifeboat Assists Two Fishermen On Disabled Trawler

18th September 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Crosshaven RNLI assisted two fishermen yesterday morning (Wednesday 17 September) after their trawler got into difficulty off the Cork coast. The Cork Harbour volunteer crew was alerted at 11.48am to a report of a fishing vessel with two…

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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