RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

RNLI Fish Friday encourages people to come together and enjoy their favourite fish dish on any Friday in August while raising money to help save lives at sea

RNLI Calls on Public to Take Part in ‘Fish Friday’ Fundraiser This August

15th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI is calling on the public to gather their own crew together this summer and take part in the charity’s foodie fundraiser, Fish Friday. Taking place throughout August, Fish Friday encourages people to come together with friends and family…

Clifden RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Joyce King with a vessel under tow

Clifden Lifeboat Assists Three Divers in Difficulty Off Inishnbofin

14th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI’s volunteer crew launched both lifeboats on Thursday afternoon (11 July) to assist three divers who had experienced a rapid ascent near Friar Island. The crew were tasked at around 4.15pm to reports of divers in difficulty a mile…

The 32-foot West Cork-based yacht, with four persons onboard, under tow by the RNLI Castletownbere from the Fastnet Rock

Castletownbere RNLI Tows West Cork Yacht in Difficulty Near the Fastnet Rock

13th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was launched early this morning to assist a 32-foot West Cork-based yacht, with four persons onboard, which had lost its ability to manoeuvre three miles south of the Fastnet Rock. The lifeboat received an alert at 06:15…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat speeds to the 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure west of Garrykennedy Harbour on Thursday evening 11 July

Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches to Assist Cruiser Adrift With Engine Failure

12th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched to the aid of seven on a 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure and was drifting towards rocks west of Garrykennedy Harbour on Thursday evening (11 July). At 4.45pm, Lough Derg’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier…

Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea. The lifeboat will be on display during our Annual Station Open Day this Sunday

Wicklow RNLI Launch to Investigate Emergency Beacon Activation

12th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea was launched just before noon today (Wednesday 10 July) following a Coast Guard pager alert, to reports of an EPIRB (emergency distress beacon) activation in the Wicklow area. The lifeboat under the command of…

Sean Walsh, a volunteer crew member at Union Hall RNLI

Union Hall Lifeboat Crew Celebrate Their Newest Volunteer Helm

12th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Sean Walsh, a volunteer crew member at Union Hall RNLI in West Cork, has this week passed out as a helm for the station. The helm is responsible for the Union Hall inshore lifeboat during launching, at sea and through…

Youghal RNLI Lifeboat Saves Paddleboarders in Distress

11th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI responded to a distress call from local lifeguards on Wednesday, July 10, at 5:16 pm, regarding three paddleboarders in difficulty approximately 500m off Youghal front strand beach. The weather conditions were described as choppy with a strong north-westerly…

File image of Clifden RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Clifden Lifeboat Assists in Medevac of Casualty From Inishbofin

9th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew in western Connemara were tasked just after 11am on Sunday morning (7 July) by the Irish Coast Guard to assist a casualty on the island of Inishbofin. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat St Christopher was…

File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Bundoran Lifeboat Rescues Vessel in Distress Near Mullaghmore

8th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers were called on Sunday afternoon (7 July) to aid a RIB in difficulty after suffering engine failure near Mullaghmore in Co Sligo. The 5.5-metre craft, with one person on board, was in danger of drifting close…

Aran Islands RNLI Carries out Medical Evacuation after Cyclist Falls

8th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI carried out a medical evacuation on Saturday after a cyclist fell. The volunteer crew had assembled at the lifeboat station for a routine training exercise at 12 noon on Saturday (6 July) when a cyclist fell off…

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Helmsman Aidan O'Connor

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboatman on his 200th 'Shout' Assists Disabled Motor Boat in Cork Harbour

8th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Helm Aidan O'Connor has reached a similar milestone in this year's 200th anniversary of the RNLI. Not 200 years, but his 200th 'shout' on the Crosshaven Lifeboat. He is the first to attain that particular honour at the Cork Harbour station.…

Kilmore Quay RNLI's all-weather Tamar class lifeboat assists two people aboard a yacht with engine failure

Kilmore Quay RNLI Assist Two People Aboard Yacht with Engine Failure off Saltee Islands

8th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilmore Quay RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched Saturday afternoon (July 6) to assist two people aboard a 32-foot yacht with engine failure close to the Saltee Islands. The Coast Guard requested that the all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney, launch at 2.37…

File image of Kinsale RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Kinsale Lifeboat Rescues Lone Sailor Off Old Head of Kinsale

5th July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Two days after Kinsale RNLI launched to the aid of two sailors after their 34ft yacht lost steering, the West Cork lifeboat rescued a lone sailor who was drifting off the Old Head of Kinsale on Monday (1 July). The volunteer…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier en route to the 27ft cruiser at Curraghmore Point

Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches to Assist Cruiser With Engine Failure

2nd July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI were requested to launch on Monday afternoon (1 July) to assist a person on a 27ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure. The casualty vessel was reported to be at anchor at Curraghmore Point, a location north…

Relief coxswain Sean Curtin pictured with Arranmore RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Arranmore Lifeboat Carries Out Medical Evacuation

1st July 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Arranmore RNLI were asked to assist in a medical evacuation from the island by the Malin Head Coast Guard at 8am on Sunday (30 June). The first responders of the Arranmore ambulance delivered the patient to…

Kinsale RNLI Rescues Sailors After Drifting 34ft Yacht Loses Steering off the Old Head of Kinsale

30th June 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Kinsale RNLI came to the aid of two sailors on Saturday afternoon (30 June) after their 34-ft yacht lost steering and began to drift off the Old Head of Kinsale. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat…

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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