RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The Name of the Late Don Clarke of Strangford Lough Yacht Club Will be on the New Clifden Lifeboat

27th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

It's a long way from Whiterock on Strangford Lough to Clifden in County Galway where the new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat will be stationed in 2022. It will be the second such vessel to be part of the charity's 'Launch…

Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat launches to go in search of the two kayakers

Lough Ree RNLI Locate Two Kayakers as Storm Bella Approaches

27th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew located two kayakers following a short lake and shoreline search of the inner lakes of Lough Ree yesterday afternoon (Saturday 26 December). The two men had departed Coosan Point at lunchtime and the alarm…

Top safety tips have been issued by the Coast Guard and the RNLI for open water swimming

Irish Coast Guard & RNLI Issue Water Safety Appeal for Christmas & New Year

23rd December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI and the Coast Guard are appealing to the public to exercise caution when participating in any activity on and near the water during the Christmas and New Year period and at all times to be mindful of the…

File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat William Henry Liddington

Bundoran Lifeboat Assists in Recovery of Sunken Vessel off Killybegs

23rd December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 22 December) to reports of a 19ft vessel that had sunk off Killybegs. Also tasked to the scene were the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 as…

Bundoran Lifeboat Crew Help Rescue Man from Boat Aground Off Ballyshannon

21st December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers from Bundoran RNLI were part of a multi-agency operation to rescue a man whose small boat ran aground on rocks in Ballyshannon yesterday afternoon (Sunday 20 December). The man raised the alarm from his boat which had run aground…

Paul Sheehan has been a dedicated volunteer crew with Dunmore East RNLI for 14 years

Dunmore East Lifeboat Volunteer Receives Community Volunteer Award

17th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Dunmore East RNLI volunteer lifeboat crewman Paul Sheehan was recently recognised for a community volunteer award by his employer after being nominated by his co-workers. Paul is a general operative with Bausch and Lomb in Waterford, which recently held an…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI to remember those who lost their lives at sea during the year online this year

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Christmas Eve Public Ceremony Cancelled Due to Covid-19

16th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Christmas Eve public ceremony to honour the memory of 15 lifeboat volunteers that died on service 125 years ago has been cancelled this year and will be shown online.…

Prints and cards of club president Kieran Faherty’s painting ‘Brewing Up A Storm’ have been quickly selling out

Galway Corinthians RFC Raise Over €8,500 for Galway RNLI & Cancer Care West

16th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

What started as a small fundraiser for Galway RNLI and Cancer Care West has turned into something spectacular as the players and members of Galway Corinthians RFC have raised over €8,500 for both organisations through two fundraising efforts. The first…

New Video Features Five of the Most Dramatic RNLI Rescues

14th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A new video featuring five of the most dramatic RNLI rescues of 2020 has been released today as the lifesaving charity braces itself for another busy Christmas: Figures for the last 10 years for the festive period (Christmas Eve to…

Carol Flahive with her long Service badge and members of the Wicklow RNLI crew

Long Service Award for Wicklow RNLI Volunteer Carol Flahive

13th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI Lifeboat volunteer Carol Flahive has received a long service badge in recognition of 20 years' dedicated service to the community. Carol joined Wicklow lifeboat in November 2000 and over the years has been in charge as the Helm on…

Galway RNLI Rescues Man Caught in Rising Tide

13th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

In Galway city, the RNLI inshore lifeboat rescued a man caught in rising tide while out walking at Ballyloughane beach near Renmore. A member of the public spotted the man who had taken refuge on Hare island at about 11…

Lough Ree RNLI Comes to the Aid of Four People on Grounded Barge Near Athlone

13th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to come to the assistance of four people on board a barge which ran aground on Saturday afternoon (12 December). The 36ft Dutch barge was stranded where the River Shannon meets Lough…

The ten metre trawler was taking on water and in danger of sinking

Clifden RNLI Lifeboats Recover Sinking Trawler with Two Onboard

12th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Both lifeboats at Clifden RNLI were launched this morning just before 11 am after a Coastguard request to go to the aid of a ten-metre fishing trawler that was taking on water and in danger of sinking. With two crew…

Robert and Colette Foster with their lifeboat crew daughter Caoimhe and her younger sister Clodagh at Crosshaven RNLI

Loved Ones of RNLI Lifeboat Volunteers Appeal for Vital Support This Christmas

8th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The families of RNLI lifeboat volunteers have joined an all-Ireland appeal for support after the charity’s usual Christmas fundraisers were cancelled. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the charity that saves lives at sea launched its 2020 Christmas appeal as so…

Michael Power and Crew (L-R Michael Power, Tramore RNLI Helm David McGrath, Tramore RNLI Crew Alec Fitzmaurice and Tramore RNLI Helm Fergal McGrath)

Survivor Backs RNLI Christmas Appeal After Charity Sees Traditional Fundraisers Cancelled

7th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

A man whose life was saved by the RNLI off the Waterford coast earlier this year, has urged people to support the RNLI’s Christmas appeal. Michael Power from Tramore had been sea swimming when he got into serious difficulty. Pulled…

Lough Ree RNLI Looking to Raise €100k for New Base at Coosan Point

7th December 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Coosan Point on Lough Ree is home to one of Ireland’s busiest lifeboat crews. But they operate from temporary facilities and the RNLI say they urgently need a permanent, new base to continue their lifesaving missions. The Institute is seeking…

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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