RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

File image of Galway RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Galway Lifeboat Rescues Nine After RIB Runs Aground in Ballyvaughan Bay

25th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

A crew of nine were rescued by Galway RNLI last night (Tuesday 24 August) after their RIB ran aground in Ballyvaughan Bay. With the boat’s propeller and engine damaged, the crew used VHF communications to alert the Irish Coast Guard…

From left: Anne Maher, lifeboat mechanic Michael Cattigan John O’Toole and lifeboat crew member Patrick McNamara

Family Thanks Achill Island Lifeboat Crew After Father’s Safe Return Home

24th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI were delighted yesterday evening (Monday 23 August) to be able to bring home a patient they had medically evacuated from Inishturk almost two months ago. The volunteer lifeboat crew had provided a medevac for 88-year-old John O’Toole…

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 3 People on Motor Cruiser Aground at the entrance to the Scarriff River

24th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

On Monday evening, 23 August, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assess a cruiser reported aground by a concerned member of the public. The cruiser was said to be in Scarriff Bay, north of the…

Fenit RNLI were tasked to a search for swimmer at 12.40 pm, following the discovery of clothes on a beach

Fenit RNLI Rescue Missing Swimmer After Extensive Search off Castlegregory

23rd August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew from Fenit RNLI rescued a swimmer last night (Sunday 22 August) following an extensive search after clothes had been found on a beach at Castlegregory earlier in the day. Fenit RNLI and Rescue 115 had been requested…

Double Medical Evacuation for Aran Islands RNLI

23rd August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were called to two medical evacuations from Inis Oirr and Inis Mór yesterday (Sunday 22 August). At 3.42 pm the crew were asked by the Irish Coast Guard to launch their all-weather Severn class…

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Join Night Search for Missing Sailor

23rd August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI all-weather lifeboat launched at 10 pm on Sunday (22 August) after a sailor was reported missing from a container ship 16 miles off the Wicklow coast. The lifeboat arrived in the search area before 10.45 pm and began…

Howth RNLI recover the upturned RIB tender

Howth RNLI Recover Upturned RIB Which Fell off Power Boat

22nd August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI was tasked by Dublin Coast Guard to recover an upturned RIB tender that fell off the rear of a powerboat. Howth RNLI pagers sounded at 1.00 pm Saturday 21st August 2021 after being tasked by Dublin Coast Guard…

Ellie the dog in the arms of a Dunmore East lifeboat volunteer

Ellie the Dog Rescued By Dunmore East Lifeboat Crew After 30m Fall From Cliff

20th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Dunmore East RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers leapt into action on the report of a dog that fell over a 30m cliff near the Co Wexford town yesterday afternoon (Thursday 19 August). The inshore lifeboat was launched at 2pm at the request…

Achill Island RNLI’s Tony McNamara Retires

20th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI’s Tony McNamara retires as Lifeboat Operations Manager after 32 years of service to the charity. Achill Island RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Tony McNamara has retired after three decades of volunteering for the charity in an operational role.…

Photos taken during sea trials at the RNLI College in Poole of Dunmore East's new RNLI Shannon lifeboat that arrives in Waterford Harbour next month

Dunmore East RNLI Prepare to Welcome New €2.4m Shannon Class Lifeboat to Waterford

19th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Preparations are well underway to bring the RNLI’s latest lifeboat for the Irish fleet to its new home at Dunmore East next month. The €2.4 million vessel will be the first Shannon class lifeboat to be based in the south-east.…

Lough Derg RNLI assists the 30ft cruiser aground near Mountshannon Harbour

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Five in Difficulty Across Back-to-Back Shouts

16th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI assisted five people on vessels in difficulty across two back-to-back shouts on the lough today, Monday 16 August. In the first callout, the lifeboat was alerted by Valentia Coast Guard to a 30ft cruiser reported aground close…

Achill Island RNLI Involved in Medical Evacuation of Patient from Clare Island

16th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI was involved in the medical evacuation of a patient from Clare Island at the weekend. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched at 9.29 am on Saturday (14 August) under Coxswain Dave Curtis and with five crew members on…

Youghal RNLI's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat

Youghal RNLI Lifeboat Responds to Reports of Eight Kayakers in Trouble in Ardmore Bay

16th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Youghal RNLI were tasked yesterday (Sunday 15 August) by the Coast Guard to reports of a number of kayakers in trouble near the floating pontoon in Ardmore Bay. Launching at 3.26 pm under the Helm of…

The yacht was located in a small inlet known as Trafrask Bay near Adrigole – the boat was aground with no persons on board

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat Tows Yacht Broken Away From Moorings

14th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was launched last night (Friday 13th August 2021) at 8.20 p.m to go to the immediate assistance of a yacht that had broken away from its mooring at Trafrask on the shores of the Beara peninsula in…

Kilmore Quay RNLI attending to the yacht with rudder damage 50 miles off Wexford

Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Rescues Four From Sinking Yacht 50 Miles Off Wexford Coast

12th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilmore Quay RNLI rescued four people early this morning (Thursday 12 August) after their yacht got into difficulty and subsequently sank 50 miles off the Wexford coast. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney…

Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat volunteers with their all-weather lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Goes to Aid of Pleasure Boat Off Seven Heads in West Cork

10th August 2021 West Cork

Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn was called out yesterday morning (Monday 9 August) to go to the aid of a 40ft pleasure boat that sought assistance three miles off the Seven Heads in West Cork. The…

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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