RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Courtmacherry welcomes the new RNLI Shannon Class Lifeboat to West Cork

Courtmacsherry Crowd Welcomes New RNLI Shannon Class Lifeboat to West Cork (Photo Gallery Here!)

23rd January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The message, "She is coming over the bar" came over the tannoy, and suddenly, the crowd in the West Cork village of Courtmacsherry swelled to bursting. Despite the inclement January weather, every vantage point was taken up on the street,…

The Crosshaven RNLI (left) rendezvous with the new Courtmacsherry lifeboat to escort her into Crosshaven

Courtmacsherry’s New Lifeboat Arrives into Cork Harbour Ahead of Today's West Cork Welcome for 'Val Adnams' Shannon Class

21st January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry’s new lifeboat which is scheduled to arrive home at the West Cork harbour this Sunday, January, 22nd was welcomed into Cork Harbour hours earlier on her delivery voyage home from Poole in Dorset. The new Shannon Class lifeboat arrived in Crosshaven…

A commemorative plaque for those lost in the 1873 lifeboat tragedy stands at Holmpatrick Cemetery in Skerries

150th Anniversary of Lifeboat Tragedy Will Be Remembered by Skerries RNLI at Ceremony Next Month

21st January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday 5 February, RNLI volunteers past and present will gather at Skerries lifeboat station in north Co Dublin to lay a wreath at sea and remember six of their colleagues who were lost while on a service in 1873.…

File image of Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier on a callout

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Three on Speedboat Adrift Near Portumna

20th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was called out on Thursday evening (19 January) to assist three people on a 16ft speedboat adrift at the most northern part of the lake near Portumna. Valentia Coast Guard requested the launch following reports…

The Shannon class all-weather Lifeboat “Val Adnams” has now been confirmed for arrival in Courtmacsherry on next Sunday, January 22nd at 1.45 pm

Courtmacsherry’s New Lifeboat Coming to West Cork on Sunday

18th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry’s new lifeboat will arrive to the West Cork harbour on Sunday next after having been deferred from last weekend due to bad weather. Vincent O'Donovan, Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Station Duty Launch Authority & Press Officer, says the new arrival…

File image of Crosshaven RNLI’s inshore lifeboat John and Janet

Crosshaven Lifeboat Crew Assist in Extracting Man With Serious Leg Injury From Cliffs Near Cobh

15th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday afternoon (15 January) Crosshaven RNLI volunteers were requested to launch and assist the National Ambulance Service and Cobh Fire Brigade to extract a casualty at Cobh. It emerged that a young man had fallen on cliffs east of…

Wicklow's all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Assist Fishermen on Vessel with Engine Failure

15th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Three fishermen were brought to safety on Saturday evening (14 January) by the crew of the Wicklow RNLI lifeboat after their 15-metre vessel developed mechanical problems while fishing for whelk off the Wicklow coast. The all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and…

Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat launched under Coxswain Sean Flanagan and with four crew members onboard

Clogherhead RNLI Aids Fishermen After 10m Boat Has Steering Difficulty Off East Coast

12th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Clogherhead RNLI lifeboat came to the aid of two fishermen this morning (Thursday, 12 January) after their 10m boat encountered steering difficulties and began to drift out to sea. The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their all-weather Shannon…

Courtmacsherry's new Shannon Class lifeboat,

Courtmacsherry's New RNLI Lifeboat Arrival is Postponed

11th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The arrival of Courtmacsherry's new Shannon Class lifeboat, "Val Adnams," originally due in this Sunday, has been cancelled due to predicted severe weather on the crossing from RNLI Headquarters in Poole to West Cork. The RNLI decision to postpone the…

The new Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat “Val Adnams” is due to arrive in Courtmacsherry, led by a flotilla of local boats on Sunday

Courtmacsherry RNLI's New Shannon Class Lifeboat Arrives This Sunday (Jan 15th)

9th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The West Cork community of Courtmacsherry are set to welcome the latest RNLI lifeboat to be based in Ireland to their village next Sunday, 15th January. This Shannon class lifeboat is unique in the RNLI's fleet as it has been…

Kinsale RNLI’s inshore lifeboat approaching the sea cliff near Nohoval Cove in West Cork on Monday 2 January

Kinsale Lifeboat Involved in Rescue of Dogs Stranded at Sea Cliff

5th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Kinsale RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew along with the assistance of four coastguard units rescued two stranded dogs on Bank Holiday Monday (2 January). The dogs had gotten into difficulty at the bottom of a cliff near Nohoval Cove in West…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI inshore rushed to Dollymount to rescue the stranded kitesurfer

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescue Kitesurfer off Dollymount Strand

1st January 2023 Kitesurfing

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI rescued a kite surfer who had drifted offshore and become entangled in the kite's lines. The rescue occurred off Dollymount Strand, one mile northeast of Bull Island, this afternoon (Sunday, 1 January). The Irish Coast Guard…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI and Howth Coast Guard rescuing a kitesurfer blown offshore from Dollymount Strand on Bull Island on New Year’s Day

Howth Coastguard and Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Tasked to Dollymount Kitesurfer in Difficulty

1st January 2023 Rescue

It was a swift start to the New Year this afternoon (Sunday 1 January) for the team at Howth’s Irish Coast Guard unit as they were tasked to a kitesurfer who was blown offshore after the wind dropped near Dollymount…

equipment and training is a significant annual expense

Lough Ree RNLI Volunteer Crew Assisted 153 People in 2022

1st January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The year just ended was a significant one for Lough Ree RNLI, both on and off the water. 2022 witnessed the opening of the charity’s ‘state of the art’ lifeboat station while on the water the volunteer crew responded to…

The RNLI's Denis Brophy (second from right) meets Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Robert Runcie

RNLI Volunteers Recognised in King’s New Year Honours

30th December 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers have been recognised in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours for their roles in helping the charity save lives at sea. Five RNLI volunteers with nearly 240 years of service between them – including…

Former coxswain Kieran Cotter next to Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Alan Massey

Belated Celebration to Mark Retirement of Baltimore Lifeboat’s Former Coxswain Kieran Cotter

26th December 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI will host a proper send-off for its retired former coxswain Kieran Cotter this Tuesday evening 27 December from 8pm at Jacob’s Bar in the West Cork village. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Cotter retired at the end of…

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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