RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Former Cork Harbour Lifeboatman Saves Two Men in €49.99 Supermarket Boat

28th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Aengus O’Donovan, a former Crosshaven RNLI crew member was returning to Crosshaven in his trawler, the 10m Majestic IV this afternoon when he spotted two young men in a supermarket inflatable boat/toy with no lifejackets approximately 1 mile south of…

Baltimore RNLI all weather lifeboat with the casulaty yacht alongside in Baltimore Harbour

Baltimore RNLI Provides Assistance to Yacht in Difficulty

27th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out earlier this afternoon (Monday 27 July) to provide assistance to a yacht in difficulty near Middle Calf Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 4.55 pm,…

Bundoran inshore lifeboat approaching Rossnowlagh beach

Bundoran RNLI Called to Two Bodyboarders

27th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI was called out on Sunday afternoon to reports of bodyboarders in trouble at Rossnowlagh Beach. Just after 2:05pm, the crew was alerted to the situation by Malin Head Coast Guard who had received an…

Using navigation charts and taking depth soundings, the Lough Derg lifeboat made a careful approach to the cruiser

Lough Derg RNLI Assist Motor Cruiser Aground

26th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to go to the assistance of six people on a 42ft motor cruiser that ran aground at the southern end of the Corakeen Islands, in Dromineer Bay yesterday afternoon. The wind was westerly,…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI lifeboats assisted the jetskis

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Lifeboats Rescue Two People after Jet Skis Suffer Engine Problems

25th July 2020 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

At 9:11 pm last night (Friday 24 July), Dublin Coast Guard requested Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI to assist two people on separate jet skis which had engine issues just off the North Bull wall in Dublin Bay. The all-weather lifeboat…

Ballycotton RNLI all-weather Trent class lifeboat Austin Lidbury

Ballycotton RNLI in Search for Swimmers Reported Missing off Garryvoe

21st July 2020 Sea Swim

Ballycotton RNLI in East Cork was launched at 7.30 pm this evening following a request from Valentia Coastguard to a report of two swimmers thought to be missing off Garryvoe beach approx. two miles west of Ballycotton by a concerned…

Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat Provides 'Medevac' from Sherkin Island

20th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out to provide a medical evacuation last night (Sunday 19 July) from Sherkin Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 7.49 pm, following a request from…

The jetski was retrieved by Portrush Lifeboat

Jetski Kill Cord Incident at Benone Beach on the North Coast

20th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Yesterday evening Coleraine Coastguard responded to a report of a person falling from a Jetski at Benone Beach. This popular Blue Flag beach stretches for over seven miles on the North Coast, from Downhill westwards to where it meets Magilligan…

Lough Derg RNLI with the 21-yacht aground

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 21ft Yacht Aground by Jushing Rocks

19th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI assisted 2 people on a 21ft yacht aground by Jushing Rocks, west of the Scilly Islands on the Ogonoloe shore in County Clare. Earlier this evening, Sunday, July 19, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to…

Crosshaven RNLI off Roches Point at the entrance to Cork Harbour

Crosshaven RNLI Assist Powerboat with Two Persons Onboard

19th July 2020 Cork Harbour

The volunteers of Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat were paged at 5.51 pm this evening (Saturday 19 July) to go to the aid of a broken-down vessel, East of Power Head at the entrance to Cork Harbour. The lifeboat with Ian Venner…

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Assist Three People on a 35ft Yacht off Dublin Bay

18th July 2020 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

At 10:21 am today (Saturday 18 July), Dublin Coast Guard requested Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI to assist three people on board a 35ft yacht which had its propeller fouled approximately two miles of the Dublin coast. The all-weather lifeboat was…

First ‘Shout’ for Lifeboatman Peter During Late Night Callout for Wicklow RNLI

17th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI Volunteer Peter Byrne participated in his first callout as Wicklow all-weather lifeboat launched shortly after 10:05 pm on Wednesday night (15 July), after a member of the public reported seeing a windsurfer having problems getting ashore near Brittas Bay…

File image of Sligo Bay RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Sligo Bay Lifeboat Launches To Swimmer In Difficulty At Rosses Point

17th July 2020 Sea Swim

Sligo Bay RNLI was involved in the rescue of a swimmer in difficulty at Rosses Point earlier this week. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 8pm on Wednesday evening (15 July) to go to the aid of…

Baltimore RNLI Carry Out Medical Evacuation from Sherkin Island

17th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out to provide a medical evacuation late last night (Thursday 16 July) from Sherkin Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew, under Coxswain Kieran Cotter, launched their all-weather lifeboat at 11.50…

File image of Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Newcastle Lifeboat Brings Three To Safety In Two Separate Callouts

16th July 2020 Northern Ireland Waters

The RNLI lifeboat crew in Newcastle, Co Down rescued three people over two callouts in the space of 24 hours earlier this week. The all-weather lifeboat first launched on Monday morning (13 July) to aid a boat with two people…

Union Hall RNLI Assist 12 People after Motorboat Gets into Difficulty off West Cork

15th July 2020 RNLI Lifeboats

The Union Hall RNLI lifeboat crew in West Cork were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to launch their inshore lifeboat Margaret Bench of Solihull, this afternoon (Wednesday 15 July) at 3.24 pm to a motorboat, approx 8 metres in…

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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