RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat returns to base after a successful tow in difficult conditions

Portrush Lifeboat Launches to Fishing Vessel Adrift With Engine Trouble

9th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

It was a busy afternoon on International Women’s Day for one of Portrush RNLI’s three women crew volunteers as the lifeboat was launched on Tuesday 8 March to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty. The 26ft vessel with two…

The Irish Underwater Search and Recovery team receiving their cheque with Irishtown/Ringsend Lord Mayor Derek Buckley, and Philip Smith and Dave Cox of St. Patrick’s Rowing Club

All in a Row Challenge Presents €20,000 to RNLI & Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Unit

7th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The “All in a Row” team which smashed a 1,000 km target in eight hours on the Liffey late last year has presented €20,000 to two leading marine rescue charities. The RNLI’s Howth station and the Irish Underwater Search and…

Lough Ree RNLI is in readiness for the move to its new state of the art boathouse in Coosan on the River Shannon near Athlone

Lough Ree RNLI Crew Prepare to Move into €1m Boathouse

7th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Following a series of familiarisation and training programmes over the last three weeks, the volunteer crew at Lough Ree RNLI is in readiness for the move to its new state of the art boathouse in Coosan later this month. The…

The Louth based RNLI Shannon lifeboat at Clogherhead launched for the kayaker

Clogherhead RNLI Rescue Lone Kayaker after Capsize Near Rocky Headland

7th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The lifeboat crew at Clogherhead RNLI rescued a lone kayaker over the weekend (Saturday 6 March) after they capsized near the local headland and were unable to get back on their craft due to the sea conditions. A local fishing…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Two After Yacht Runs Aground

6th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s volunteer crew were called to assist two people on a 37ft yacht that ran aground on the lough on Saturday afternoon (5 March). At 3.36pm the lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh and crew Doireann…

Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather Shannon class lifeboat

Dunmore East RNLI Seeks New Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer

5th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Are you a good communicator and willing to engage with the media? If so, Dunmore East RNLI may have just the volunteer role for you. The Co Waterford station is currently recruiting for the position of volunteer lifeboat press officer.…

Padraig ‘Pops’ Rath with members of Clogherhead RNLI in front of the station’s Shannon class lifeboat following the exercise

End of an Era as Clogherhead RNLI Mechanic ‘Pops’ Retires After Four Decades Saving Lives at Sea

5th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

It is the end of an era at Clogherhead RNLI as long-serving lifeboat crewmember and station mechanic, Padraig Rath, affectionally known as ‘Pops’ has handed in his pager and officially retired from saving lives at sea this week. After four…

Newcastle RNLI volunteers and staff involved in the rescue

Newcastle Lifeboat Volunteers Rescue Swimmer From Rough Seas

2nd March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers at Newcastle RNLI rescued a swimmer who got into difficulty in rough seas close to the Co Down harbour this morning (Wednesday 2 March). Two volunteers and three visiting staff members were working at the lifeboat station when shortly…

Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat Call Out to Fishing Vessel with Mechanical Problems

2nd March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew with Clogherhead RNLI had an early morning call out today (Wednesday 2 March) when they were requested to launch by Dublin Coast Guard to a 16m fishing vessel with five people onboard, that had suffered machinery issues a…

Corá Gallagher presents the cheque to the RNLI crews from Carrybridge and Enniskillen

Carrybridge and Enniskillen Lifeboats Receive Generous Donation

26th February 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crews of Carrybridge and Enniskillen RNLI were recently delighted to receive a donation of £1,600 raised at a special event that crossed swimming with mindfulness. ‘Wild and Free at the Sea’ was held by Dips N Hips…

File image of Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat at night

Aran Islands Lifeboats Carries Out Midnight Medevac From Inis Mór

23rd February 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch just after midnight this morning (Wednesday 22 February) for a medevac for a patient on Inis Mór in need of further medical attention. The Severn class lifeboat launched under coxswain John…

Clifden RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat in heavy seas in Clifden Bay on Tuesday 22 February

Clifden Lifeboat Carries Out Search in Extreme Wind and High Seas for Emergency Signal

23rd February 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI were requested to conduct a search operation in response to an EPIRB signal eight miles west of the Connemara town in what was one of their “most challenging” callouts in some time. EPIRB is…

New Shop Volunteers Needed to Help at Donaghadee RNLI and Stations Across Island of Ireland

21st February 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI is looking for new shop volunteers to join its lifesaving team at Donaghadee RNLI in Co Down — and stations across the island of Ireland. Just like the charity’s lifeboats, the RNLI’s retail team need a dedicated volunteer…

Beaufort Cuppers - Vice Admiral RCYC, Annemarie Fegan with members from the Defence Forces, Fire Service, (RCYC's Admiral
Kieran O'Connell) Coast Guard and Crosshaven RNLI Helm, James Fegan

Third Beaufort Cup Inter-Service Regatta to be Held During Cork Week

18th February 2022 Cork Week

The international Inter-Service Regatta, the Beaufort Cup, will be held during Volvo Cork Week, including an overnight race around the Fastnet Rock. The third edition of the Cup organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club will include a 'wealth of…

RNLI Offers Coastal Safety Advice Ahead of Back-to-Back Storm Warnings

15th February 2022 Water Safety

With both Met Éireann and the UK’s Met Office predicting disruptive weather this week due to back-to-back storms, the RNLI has urged the public to be careful at the coast. The charity that saves lives at sea is encouraging people…

When the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat arrived at Navigation Mark J, north of Gortmore, it began a thorough search of the area

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Launches to Investigate Kayaker in Difficulty Report

12th February 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

On Sunday afternoon, 12 February, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to investigate a report from a member of the public that a kayaker was in difficulty by Navigation Mark J, at the northern 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