RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Skerries RNLI look on from the inshore lifeboat as the paddleboarder is reunited with her parents on the shoreline

Skerries Lifeboat Crew Rescue Young Paddleboarder Blown Out to Sea

2nd August 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI were tasked on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon (1 August) by Dublin Coast Guard following 999 calls reporting a girl being blown out to sea on her paddleboard. The volunteers in Skerries launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis…

First Call out for New Crew Member as Kilkeel RNLI Goes to the Aid of a Windsurfer in Carlingford Lough

2nd August 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilkeel RNLI came to the aid of a windsurfer who got into difficulty in Carlingford Lough yesterday. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard at 2.30 pm yesterday (Monday, 1 August) after the alarm…

The Emergency Services Open Day last took place in August 2019

Bundoran RNLI to Host Emergency Services Open Day

2nd August 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat in County Donegal will host an open day at the lifeboat station, which will also incorporate an Emergency Services Open Day. On the day, subject to operational requirements, the volunteer crew of the…

Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather Lifeboat leaving the station on Saturday evening 30 July

Newcastle Lifeboat Crew Attend Two Callouts in Quick Succession

1st August 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

In the first of two callouts in quick succession on Saturday evening (30 July), Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was called to assist a broken-down boat at Gunns Island. The volunteer crew answered their pagers at 5.57pm and launched the lifeboat…

Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat towing the casualty vessel

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Assists Fishing Vessel Taking on Water

31st July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat responded on Saturday morning (30 July) to a local fisherman who reported his vessel was rapidly taking on water. The volunteer crew launched at 9.40am and headed to the scene 10 miles north of Rosslare…

Baltimore RNLI Helm Pat O’Driscoll decided that undertaking a tow was necessary and volunteer crew member Conor Harrington was put aboard the casualty vessel to assist the lone sailor in rigging a tow

Baltimore RNLI Provides Assistance to a Yacht in Difficulty

30th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide assistance to a yacht with one person onboard that got into difficulty off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork, on Thursday evening (28 July). The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at…

Union Hall RNLI Goes to Aid of Four People on Yacht Caught on Lobster Pot

30th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew at Union Hall RNLI in West Cork answered the second callout in three days when they were requested to launch their inshore Atlantic 85 class lifeboat by Valentia Coast Guard at 4.28 pm today (Friday 29th July) to…

Kilmore Quay RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Agencies Make Water Safety Appeal Ahead of August Bank Holiday Weekend

28th July 2022 Water Safety

Ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI, Water Safety Ireland and Met Éireann are appealing for people to take care when they are on or near the water. With many people continuing to enjoy the…

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Austin Lidbury

Ballycotton Lifeboat Assists Three on Pleasure Boat South of Helvick Head

28th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Three people were brought to safety by Ballycotton RNLI after their pleasure boat suffered engine failure 17 nautical miles south of Helvick Head on Wednesday evening (27 July). Ballycotton’s all-weather lifeboat Austin Lidbury was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard…

Union Hall's RNLI Inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat Christine and Raymond Fielding

Union Hall RNLI Launch to a Yacht Aground in Glandore Harbour

28th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

On Wednesday morning (27th July), after a phone call from a member of the public to the on-call Union Hall RNLI Launch Authority, to say a yacht was in difficulty at the outer Dangers in Glandore harbour, Valentia Coast Guard…

Wicklow RNLI tow the yacht back to harbour

Wicklow RNLI Assist Sailors with Rope-Fouled Propellor

27th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI brought three sailors to safety after their yacht lost propulsion from a rope-fouled propellor off the Wicklow coast. The all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams slipped its moorings at the South quay at 10:28 pm on Monday…

Billy the dog safe on the Howth lifeboat after his rescue

Howth Lifeboat Rescues Father, Son and Their Dog ‘Billy’ In Danger of Drifting Towards Cliffs

26th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Howth RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat Roy Barker III on Sunday afternoon (24 July) to aid a father, son and their dog Billy on a boat drifting towards the cliffs off Howth Head. The lifeboat, with…

First look - Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Assists a 13m Yacht with engine difficulties

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Assists 13m Yacht

25th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat in Cork Harbour was requested to launch shortly before noon on Monday (July 25th) to assist a 13-metre steel-hulled yacht on passage from Youghal to Crosshaven that had engine difficulties. The yacht, with three crew on board…

The lifeboat crew return to Fethard Dock with the casualty vessel under tow

Fethard Lifeboat Launches to Lone Boatman Blown Out to Sea

24th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat on Friday afternoon (22 July) after one of its helms spotted a lone boatman struggling to make ground with oars while being blown away from the shore. The volunteer crew launched the inshore lifeboat…

File image of Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launching for an early morning callout

Youghal Lifeboat Rescues Family From Yacht Drifting Towards Rocks

22nd July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew rescued a family of three from their stricken yacht this morning (Friday 22 July) as it drifted towards rocks near Black Head in Youghal Bay. The couple with their teenage son radioed for help after…

File image of Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat leaving the station

Medevac Marks Third Callout in Five Days for Baltimore Lifeboat

21st July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Less than 24 hours after their role in the dramatic rescue of French yachtsman Loic Escoffier, Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide a medical evacuation on Wednesday afternoon (20 July) from Cape Clear Island in West Cork in what…

Start
Prev
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Next
End

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