RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat tows the stricken yacht to safe port

Portrush Lifeboat Launches to Reports of Yacht in Difficulty in White Park Bay

11th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard on Saturday afternoon (9 July) to reports of a 35-foot yacht in difficulty between White Park Bay and Rathlin Island, off Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast. The all-weather lifeboat launched under coxswain…

Lough Ree RNLI’s inshore lifeboat takes the sailing boat under tow from Beam Island on Saturday evening 9 July

Saturday Rescue of Boat Run Aground Marks 20th Callout of 2022 So Far for Lough Ree RNLI

11th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Despite a quiet start to 2022 on Midlands waters, Lough Ree RNLI’s volunteer crews responded to their 20th callout of the year on Saturday evening (9 July) after a request to assist a boat with three on board in difficulty…

Lough Derg RNLI using electronic wayfinding to navigate in darkness

Lough Derg Lifeboat Searches for Three People and Their Dog Reported Missing on Lake

11th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s volunteers had a late-night callout on Sunday (10 July) to search for three people and their dog on a white speedboat reported missing on the lake. At midnight, the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched 15 minutes after pagers sounded…

Howth RNLI Launch Both Lifeboats to Aid Yacht Aground with Family on Board

11th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew of Howth RNLI launched both their Inshore and All-Weather lifeboats on Saturday (9 July) to reports of a yacht with a family of four on board who had ran aground at the entrance to Malahide harbour.…

The RNLI’s water safety team with swimmers at Baginbun

Fethard RNLI’s Water Safety Officer Begins New Role With Swim Safely Clinic

9th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

As the summer season begins, Fethard RNLI’s new volunteer water safety officer Rebecca Doyle commenced her role by organising a swim safely clinic. Local swim group Hooked on Swimming and the local triathlon club attended the clinic, which was provided…

Enniskillen RNLI’s volunteers survey Lough Erne from the inshore lifeboat

Enniskillen Lifeboat Assists Two Stuck on Vessel Run Aground on Lower Lough Erne

5th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Enniskillen RNLI came to the aid of two people on Sunday (3 July) after their boat ran aground on Lower Lough Erne. The lifeboat volunteers were paged by Belfast Coastguard shortly before 1.45pm to rescue the duo at Gull Rock,…

Lough Derg RNLI attending the motor cruiser with steering failure near Williamstown on Sunday 3 July

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Seven People in Back-to-Back Sunday Callouts

4th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI assisted seven people on two separate vessels in back-to-back callouts on Sunday afternoon (3 July). Valentia Coast Guard first requested Lough Derg’s lifeboat volunteers to launch to three people on a 25ft motor cruiser adrift with steering…

RNLI Dun Laoghaire volunteer crew leaving the harbour aboard inshore lifeboat 'Joval'

Dun Laoghaire RNLI Rescues Kayaker off Dalkey's Sorrento Point

4th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI rescued a kayaker who was in the water for over 20 minutes on Saturday (2 July) after he got into difficulty off Dalkey Island. The volunteer crew were alerted shortly after 4 pm by the Irish…

Sligo Bay RNLI Reminds people of Text Coney Service to Help Prevent Visitors Getting Caught Out by the Tide

4th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers at Sligo Bay RNLI are reminding visitors planning a trip to Coney Island to take advantage of the free Text Coney service to help prevent them getting cut off by the tide. The RNLI text messaging service was introduced…

In his first launch as RNLI Fethard Helmsman, Mick Roche is pictured towing the broken down yacht

Fethard RNLI Launch to Assist Two People on Broken Down Yacht in Bannow Bay

2nd July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat on Wednesday evening last (29 June) to assist the crew of a 25-foot yacht which had broken down in Bannow Bay. The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by the Irish…

Jordann Wizowski presents his donation to Wicklow RNLI

Wicklow Lifeboat Volunteers Receive Donation From Young RNLI Storm Force Member

2nd July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI were delighted to welcome Jordann Wizowski and his mother Megan to the lifeboat station for a very special presentation recently. Five-year-old Jordann completed a walk between the present Wicklow RNLI lifeboat station and the former station on the Murrough…

Sadie the Boxer was in a precarious position until Dun Laoghaire RNLI arrived at the South Bull Wall

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescues Sadie the Boxer Dog After Fall from South Bull Wall

30th June 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI rescued Sadie, a boxer dog who had fallen more than 3m below the pier walkway close to the Half Moon swimming area on the South Bull Wall at Dublin Port on Wednesday (29 June) while walking…

Dun Laoghaire's new D class lifeboat 'Joval'

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescues Two Stand-up Paddleboarders in Difficulty off Seapoint

29th June 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire RNLI rescued two stand-up paddleboarders who got into difficulty off Seapoint in Dublin Bay last Saturday (25 June). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 12.55 pm by the Irish Coast Guard. The alarm was…

Aran Islands RNLI Say a Céad Míle Fáilte as New Shop Opens on Inis Mór

28th June 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI’s most westerly shop in Ireland has opened its doors on Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands, to raise vital lifesaving funds for the charity that saves lives at sea. The new shop which is located inside…

The one-minute film was made to promote the partnership between the RNLI and the GAA and shows how both organisations share the same values of community and volunteerism

Cork RNLI Lifeboat Stations and GAA Club Feature in Film to Promote National Drowning Prevention Partnership (Video Here)

28th June 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew from Courtmacsherry and Ballycotton RNLI, along with members of Barryroe GAA are featuring in a short film to promote a drowning prevention partnership between the RNLI and the GAA. The two organisations have been working together on…

Newcastle RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat

Newcastle RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Five GB Row Challenge Rowers in Difficulty off Ardglass

27th June 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Newcastle RNLI rescued five rowers early yesterday morning (Sunday 26 June) after they got into difficulty in challenging weather conditions 23 nautical miles northeast of Ardglass. The crew from the GB Row Challenge had left Tower Bridge London on 12…

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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