RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Helvick Head RNLI Aids of Fisherman After 21ft Boat Breaks Down at Mine Head

6th October 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Helvick Head RNLI came to the aid of a fisherman on Saturday afternoon last (2 October) after his 21ft open deck boat broke down at Mine Head. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by the Irish…

The journey took the all-weather lifeboat, Sam and Ada Moody, past Clare Island and Inishturk, then south to Inishbofin in moderate sea conditions with waves of up to two metres in places

Achill Island RNLI in Night Time Launch to Medical Evacuation of a Patient from Inishbofin

5th October 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI evacuated a male patient from Inishbofin late last night and into this morning, (Tuesday 5 October). The patient was brought to Cleggan Pier in Galway for further transport to University College Hospital, Galway. The volunteer lifeboat crew…

Donaghadee RNLI Comes to the Aid of Seven People onboard 18ft Boat that Breaks Down off Ballyhalbert

4th October 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Donaghadee RNLI came to the aid of seven people onboard an 18ft Bayliner boat that broke down a mile off Ballyhalbert on the Ards Peninsula yesterday afternoon (Sunday 3 October). The volunteer crew were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch…

Bundoran RNLI Comes to the Aid of a Family Caught in a Rip Current off the Town’s Main Beach

4th October 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI came to the aid of a family who got caught in a rip current off the Main Beach in Bundoran on Saturday afternoon (2 October). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 4.09 pm…

Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour RNLI, along with Rescue 117, conduct a joint rescue operation off the Wexford coast for the crew of the Cargo Vessel Lily B

RNLI Lifeboats from Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay & Rosslare Harbour Feature in TV Docu Saving Lives at Sea

4th October 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI lifesavers from Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour to feature in new series of TV documentary Saving Lives at Sea The volunteer lifeboat crews of Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour RNLI will be taking to the…

Abi Ferguson and Niamh O’Reilly with Dublin GAA star Lyndsey Davey presenting Skerries RNLI with their generous donation

Skerries RNLI Thanks Young Fundraisers After Cake Sale to Benefit Local Lifeboat

2nd October 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI thanked two young fundraisers when they were presented with a cheque for €150 this week. Abi Ferguson and Niamh O’Reilly presented the volunteers at the north Co Dublin lifeboat station with the generous donation before GAA training on…

The Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat crew members under Coxswain Mark John Gannon after they arrived back, to the Courtmacsherry Pontoon. Left to Right. Mark John Gannon, Ciaran Hurley, Kevin Young, Evin O Sullivan, Donal Young and Stuart Russell. (Ken Cashman missing from picture)

Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Lone Kayaker Capsized off Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse

2nd October 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry All-Weather Trent Class RNLI Lifeboat was called out on Friday evening at 5.45 pm, to go to the immediate aid of a lone Kayaker that was spotted in trouble off the Old Head of Kinsale in West Cork.…

Kevin Scott (58) fulfilled a retirement goal and raised funds for the RNLI in lockdown

Scottish Author's New Books 'Harbouring-My Desire' Raises Funds for the RNLI

28th September 2021 Scottish Waters

My name is Kevin Scott (58) from Newton Mearns, Glasgow. Married, two children. Lockdown for me provided the ideal opportunity to fulfil one of my earliest retirement goals. And that was to complete my journey around the Scottish mainland, once…

Dunmore East RNLI welcomes the new €2.4 million Shannon class lifeboat

Dunmore East RNLI Welcomes New €2.4m Shannon Class Lifeboat to Waterford Harbour

26th September 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

A new addition to lifesaving in the South-East of the country, arrived today (Sunday 26 September 2021), when Dunmore East RNLI brought their €2.4 million Shannon class lifeboat to its new home. A six-person lifeboat crew from Dunmore East RNLI…

Fethard Lifeboat launched at Duncannon Strand

Fethard RNLI Launch to Assist Two Fishermen in Punt Broken Down in Thick Fog

25th September 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch today (Saturday 25 September) by the Irish Coast Guard shortly before 12.30 pm, following a call for help from two stranded fishermen in a small open punt. Their craft had outboard engine difficulties…

Skerries RNLI towing the yacht to safety

Skerries Lifeboat Tows Yacht to Safety After Engine Failure

25th September 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Two men have been towed to safety by Skerries RNLI after their 34ft yacht experienced engine failure. Shortly after noon yesterday (Friday 24 September), the duo reported the loss of both drive and steering via VHF radio to Dublin Coast…

Lough Ree RNLI’s Damien Delaney (left) and treasurer Vincent Rafter (right) with swimmers Karen Reynolds and Serena Friel as they present their donation cheque

Athlone Women Raise More Than €11k for Lough Ree RNLI in Marathon Swim

20th September 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Athlone open water swimmers Serena Friel and Karen Reynolds have presented Lough Ree RNLI with a cheque for €11,300 following a fundraising swim on the lake last month. Throughout this year the women, who have been swimming regularly at Coosan…

Lough Derg RNLI crew assisting one of the two cruisers that had run aground on the lake on Sunday afternoon 19 September

Lough Derg Lifeboat Helps 10 People on Vessels Run Aground in Back-to-Back Shouts

20th September 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI had back-to-back callouts yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19 September) to vessels that had run aground near navigation marks. At 1.35pm the Lough Derg lifeboat launched to assist seven people on a 45ft cruiser aground at Navigation Mark G.…

File image of Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat off Roches Point

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Assists Four on Boat in Difficulty

20th September 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

A pleasure boat with mechanical issues off the Seven Heads in West Cork prompted a launch by Courmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat at the weekend. The Trent class lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn — under coxswain Mark Gannon and a volunteer crew…

File image of Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Man Rescued After Falling Overboard From Yacht in Youghal Harbour

20th September 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI launched to the aid of a man who had fallen overboard from his yacht in the East Cork town’s harbour at the weekend. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat on Saturday afternoon (18 September)…

File image of Donaghadee RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Saxon

Donaghadee Lifeboat Evacuates Sick Passenger From Cruise Ship

18th September 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Donaghadee RNLI carried out a medevac of a passenger who became ill on a cruise ship that left Belfast Lough on Friday evening (17 September). The volunteer crew were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch their all-weather lifeboat Saxon shortly…

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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