RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Union Hall RNLI's Atlantic 85 Lifeboat; Christine and Raymond Fielding

First Callout for new Union Hall RNLI Atlantic 85 Lifeboat

9th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The Union Hall RNLI volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat Christine and Raymond Fielding, by the Irish Coast Guard at 3.50pm today (Friday 9th July) to reports of two people in difficulty in the small sound, an…

The new full-time Aran Islands RNLI mechanic, Mairtín Eoin Coyne

Aran Islands RNLI Welcomes New Full-Time Mechanic

7th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI has welcomed a new full-time mechanic to the station. Mairtín Eoin Coyne takes over from Johnny Mulkerrin, who retired after 35 years last month. Mairtín Eoin, an Aran Islander from birth, is no stranger to the station…

The special presentation on shores of Lough Ree at Coosan Point

Model Lifeboat & Painting Presented to Lough Ree RNLI

5th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI’s volunteer crew were the recipients of a number of personalised gifts from a keen lifeboat supporter at a presentation yesterday afternoon (Sunday 4 July). Limerick man Mark Conway (43) visited Coosan Point Athlone with his friend Tommy…

Kinsale RNLI volunteers board the 51ft ketch to assist its solo-sailing skipper

Kinsale RNLI Crew Assists Solo Sailor After 52 Days at Sea

5th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Kinsale RNLI’s lifeboat launched on Saturday 3 July to help a solo yachtsman struggling at sea with damaged sails. The yachtsman had left the Caribbean island of Carriacou on Thursday 13 May en route to the UK. But three weeks…

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

Medevac from Inis Mór for Aran Islands Lifeboat

5th July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew at Aran Islands RNLI were asked to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat just after 8pm yesterday (Sunday 4 July) to a woman in need of medical attention on Inis Mór, the largest of the Galway Bay…

The 3 people aboard the motorboat were all wearing lifejackets but the 2 younger crew members were suffering from slight seasickness.

Howth RNLI Rescue Family of 3 People in Fishing Boat with Engine Problems

3rd July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI pagers sounded at 6.10 pm Friday 3rd July 2021 to reports of a small fishing vessel with three people on board who were stranded in the vicinity of Lambay Island due to mechanical problems. The Howth RNLI all…

A busy Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew tow a cruiser that had gone aground

Lough Ree RNLI Assist 25 People on Stranded Motor Cruisers This Week

2nd July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew this morning (Friday 2 July) responded to a call-out to a cruiser with eleven people on board which had run aground north of Inch Turk island. This brings to 25 the number of people…

Fethard RNLI Assists Lone Fisherman After 18ft Boat Breaks Down off Hook Head

2nd July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI were requested to launch their lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard yesterday morning (Thursday 1 July) at 11.20 am, to assess the situation where a fisherman reported difficulties with his boat’s outboard engine. Fethard…

Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat crew launch for the medical emergency

Lough Derg RNLI Launched to Assist 'Semi-Conscious' Young Person on Dromineer Bay

1st July 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

On Wednesday afternoon, June 30, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist a young person reported to be semi-conscious on a floating pontoon, by Dromineer Harbour. At 3.43 pm the lifeboat Jean Spier launched with…

Baltimore RNLI Assists to Three Onboard 38ft Yacht in Difficulty

30th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide assistance to three people on a yacht in difficulty just before midnight last night (Tuesday 29 June) off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at…

Howth RNLI Rescue Four in Yacht off Lambay Island

30th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI rescued four people in a yacht who were struggling to make it back to safe harbour and drifting with no propulsion. Howth RNLI pagers sounded at 3.10 pm Tuesday to reports of a sailing yacht with four people…

The skipper of the yacht suffered the mast break four days ago and without any sleep since in gusting weather, was mighty glad to be on safe grounds of Courtmacsherry

Lone Sailor Rescued By Courtmacsherry RNLI after Yacht Suffers Broken Mast Plus Steering & Engine Failure After 14 Days at Sea

29th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry All-Weather Trent Class RNLI Lifeboat was called out this morning Tuesday at 9.10 am, to go to the aid of a 32-foot yacht with a lone sailor on board that got into difficulties 15 miles south-west of Courtmacsherry…

The inshore lifeboat crew took the four people from the rocks and transferred them to the all-weather lifeboat which was standing by offshore

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboats in Rescue after Swimmers Go to the Aid of Young Girls on Inflatable

28th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats were launched shortly before 5:30 pm this evening following reports of two swimmers in difficulties on an inflatable toy off the Silver Strand beach south of Wicklow Head. The Inshore lifeboat arrived on scene at 5:38…

Kinsale Lifeboat Launches to Sailor Injured During Sovereign’s Cup

27th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Kinsale RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was launched on Friday afternoon (25 June) to help an injured sailor on a racing yacht competing in the Sovereign’s Cup. Volunteers were paged before 2pm following a report to the Irish Coast Guard that a…

New Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Goes on Service at Union Hall RNLI

25th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

A new inshore Atlantic 85 class lifeboat has officially gone on service at Union Hall RNLI in in West Cork. The lifeboat, which arrived at the lifeboat station last week, replaces the last Atlantic 75 in Ireland, Margaret Bench of…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spicer and crew

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Family of Five on Cruiser in Difficulty

25th June 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 24 June) to assist a family of five on a 30ft cruiser in difficulty by navigation mark G on the eastern shore of the lough. At 2.20pm the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched…

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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