RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The lifeboat crew set up an astern tow and took the boat from the rocks and into safe waters

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 30ft Yacht Aground near Pike Island

6th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

At 3.40 pm yesterday Lough Derg RNLI was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to go to the assistance of two people whose vessel had run aground near Pike Island, north of Kilgarvan Quay on the Tipperary shore. Volunteer crew with…

The 19 metre fishing vessel experienced difficulty off the Bull Rock on the Beara peninsula in West Cork

Castletownbere RNLI Launch to Assist Fishing Vessel off Beara Peninsula

5th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew at Castletownbere RNLI were launched early this morning just after 03.30 a.m. to assist a 19-metre fishing vessel which experienced difficulties off the Bull Rock off the Beara peninsula in West Cork. The alarm was raised when the…

Carrybridge RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Douglas Euan and Kay Richards and rescue water craft

Carrybridge RNLI Seeks New Lifeboat Volunteers For Lough Erne

5th November 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI is looking for new volunteer crew members to join its search and rescue service on Lough Erne. The station, on the River Erne between the upper and lower loughs, is now calling on potential recruits to come forward…

Bundoran RNLI’s volunteer crew make their way to the scene

Four Rescued From Co Sligo Island After Vessel Capsizes

4th November 2019 Rescue

Four people have been rescued from an island off the Sligo coast after their vessel washed up on rocks. Bundoran RNLI’s volunteer crew launched to the incident at Inishmurray Island yesterday afternoon (Sunday 3 November) along with the Irish Coast…

Portaferry and Newcastle RNLI working with Rescue 116 to rescue the crew of the grounded fishing boat

Five Crew Rescued From Fishing Boat Aground At Ardglass Harbour

24th October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Five crew were rescued from a fishing vessel that ran aground on rocks on approach to Ardglass Harbour early yesterday morning (Wednesday 23 October). Portaferry and Newcastle RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews launched to assist after a Mayday call from the…

Derry and Kilmore Quay RNLI kitchen volunteers

Chef Derry Clarke Puts on a Fabulous Fish Supper in Aid of Kilmore Quay RNLI

23rd October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The great and the good of Kilmore Quay turned out on Friday night (18 October) last weekend to dine on a fish supper with a difference which raised €2,518 for saving lives at sea. Overseeing the cooking was Michelin Star…

File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Stranded Diving Group Rescued Off Donegal Coast

21st October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A diving group stranded off the Donegal coast when their dive boat broke down were rescued by the Bundoran RNLI lifeboat crew yesterday afternoon (Sunday 20 October) Receiving the call from Malin Head Coast Guard shortly before 1pm, the lifeboat crew, who…

Lough Derg RNLI Assists Family on a Cruiser with Engine Failure on Lough Derg

13th October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to assist a family of three, two adults and a child, on a 21ft cruiser suffering engine failure near the County Clare shore today. Weather conditions were calm with Force…

Valentia RNLI escorting the fishing vessel to Dingle Harbour

Valentia RNLI Comes to the Aid of Fisherman Following Collision With a Ship

12th October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Valentia RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat this morning to assist a fisherman with suspected spinal injuries following a collision. At 1.17 am the Valentia Coast Guard requested Valentia RNLI all-weather lifeboat to launch to an injured fisherman onboard a…

Carrybridge RNLI's inshore lifeboat en route to the stricken vessel near Killyhelvin jetty

Carrybridge Lifeboats Launch To Help Two On Broken Down Vessel

8th October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI's inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft (RWC) were launched last night (Monday 7 October) after 7pm to a vessel with two people on board which had suffered engine failure around half a mile upstream from the Killyhevlin jetty.…

Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V

Portaferry RNLI Celebrates 40 Years Of Lifesaving

7th October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI celebrated the lifeboat station’s 40th anniversary this past weekend with a party and presentation evening for crew members and their families. During the course of the evening, the crew paid thanks to past and present members for their…

Lough Ree RNLI’s inshore lifeboat The Eric Rowse

Lough Ree Lifeboat Volunteers Feature In Latest Series Of BBC’s ‘Saving Lives At Sea’

4th October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers will be showcased on the small screen in an upcoming episode of BBC TV series Saving Lives at Sea. Tune in to BBC Two on Tuesday 15 October at 8pm to see the Lough Ree…

Fenit RNLI in Search for Missing Windsurfer During Storm Lorenzo

3rd October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Fenit RNLI launched in gale force conditions during Storm Lorenzo this evening to search for a windsurfer reported missing off Brandon Bay in County Kerry. The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 7.23 pm this…

Aran Islands RNLI Carries Out Medical Evacuation off Inis Meain During Storm Lorenzo

3rd October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI carried out a medical evacuation this morning during Storm Lorenzo. The volunteer crew were asked to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat at 9.51am today at the request of the Irish Coast Guard. A lady on Inis…

Fethard RNLI Rescues Man & Two Dogs Cut Off by Tide

1st October 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI rescued a man and his two dogs after they got cut off by the tide while out walking north of Creaden Head in County Waterford on Sunday evening (29 September). The inshore D class lifeboat was requested to…

Shipwrecked Sailor Video of Rescue by Clifden RNLI

24th September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

As Afloat reported last Friday, in very challenging weather conditions Clifden RNLI launched two lifeboats after the Irish Coast Guard requested them to go to the aid of a lone sailor who had gone ashore on Inishark Island. The full…

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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