RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Sligo Bay RNLI Rescues Two From Norwegian Yacht

20th August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#LIFEBOATS - The crew of the Sligo Bay RNLI lifeboat rescued two people from a 31ft Norwegian flagged yacht at the weekend. The volunteer lifeboat crew was tasked by Malin Head coastguard shortly after 3.30pm on Saturday 18 August following…

Father Dies Following Capsize in Enterprise Sailing Dinghy

14th August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – There was a tragic end to an afternoon sail for a father and son in an Enterprise sailing dinghy in West Cork yesterday. As reported earlier on Afloat.ie the Castletownbere lifeboat was launched shortly after 9.30pm on Monday…

Skerries Lifeboat Launches for 'Upturned Boat' Sighting off Gormanstown

14th August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Last night Skerries RNLI were requested to launch by the Coast Guard following report of a sighting of an upturned boat in the water off Gormanstown, County Meath. A number of the Skerries RNLI Volunteer crew were undergoing…

Body Recovered After Sailing Dinghy Overturns Off West Cork

14th August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#MISSING BOATS - The Irish Times reports that the body of a man in his 60s has been recovered from the sea off West Cork in the early hours of this morning. The body, believed to be that of John…

French Yacht Fouled on Lobster Pot is Rescued by Crosshaven Lifeboat

9th August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnil – A French yacht with a fouled propelller on passage to Kinsale in foggy conditions has been towed safely to Crosshaven in Co. Cork by the RNLI. At 7.20pm last night, Valentia Coast Guard tasked Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat to…

New 'Velvet Strand Race' in aid of the RNLI and The Mark Pollock Trust

8th August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

# rnli – A new Velvet Strand Race is a charity sea race aimed at the novice and elite competitors with the intention of showcasing the coastal stretch between Malahide and Portmarnock. There will be three courses, Novice/Junior (5kms), Standard…

Ballycotton Lifeboat Assists Broken Down RIB

6th August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – The annual family fun day was held on Ballycotton pier to raise funds for Ballycotton lifeboat yesterday on bank holiday Sunday afternoon. At 12:30 the lifeboat station received a call from a rib with engine failure east of…

Shouts from a Cave Lead Baltimore Lifeboat to Kayakers

5th August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – At 00:30 this morning, after a search of many hours for two kayakers who had been reported missing from Rosscarbery, shouts were heard from a cave near Millcove. Baltimore Inshore Lifeboat Helm John Kearney investigated and found the…

Lough Derg Lifeboat Rescues Four from Grounded Cruiser

3rd August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched tonight to assist 4 people whose cruiser was grounded and who abandoned their vessel to a small tender. On Friday evening August 3 at 17.25hrs, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch…

Capsized Lough Derg Speedboat Prompts Search for Possible Missing Occupants

3rd August 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – Last night at 21.19hrs, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was launched to investigate a vessel upturned in Youghal Bay, close to Garrykennedy. At 21.34hrs, the lifeboat launched with Helm Peter Clarke, Colin Knight and David Moore on board. Winds…

Crosshaven Lifeboat Assists Youths Cut off by Tide

27th July 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Two young teenagers were rescued last night by the Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat after being cut off by the tide at Fort Camden. The two boys tried to make their way to safety across the rocks as the tide…

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Three on Cruiser

27th July 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Lough Derg Lifeboat assisted 3 persons aboard a 27ft cruiser who got into difficulties after they believed they glanced off rocks. Whilst out on exercise on Thursday evening July 26th Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested by Valentia Coast Guard…

Bundoran Lifeboat Assists Drifting Yacht off Mullaghmore

23rd July 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat was this morning (Monday 23rd July) called to assist a small 17ft yacht which had been drifting off Mullaghmore, County Sligo. The initial call came from Malin Head Coastguard around 8.50am who had received a…

Lifeboats Old and New Meet on the Aran Islands

18th July 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI – A surprise return visit to the Aran Islands was made recently by former Galway Bay RNLI lifeboat Frank Spiller Locke. This restored Barnett class lifeboat was stationed at the Aran Islands from 1977 to 1985. She was previously…

Family Outing to Cape Clear Ends in Lifeboat Tow Home

15th July 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – A family outing to Cape Clear Island became a distress call this evening. The Merry Fisher 6.5 metre motorboat experienced difficulties with her fuel line when en route from Cape Clear Island to White Hall. Taking precautionary action…

NI Lifeboat Assists Injured Woman on Belfast Lough

14th July 2012 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Volunteer lifeboat crews received a urgent request from Belfast Coastguard on Thursday to launch Bangor and Donaghadee lifeboats and give vital medical assistance to a women who had fallen on the Copeland Island. Within minutes of the rescue…

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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