RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

‘Swim Safe’ Sessions At Lough Erne’s Share Centre This Month

4th September 2019 Water Safety

The RNLI says it wants to help children Swim Safe with free water safety sessions at the Share Discovery Village on Upper Lough Erne for the first time this September. The fun, hour-long sessions teach young people how to swim…

File image of Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft

Busy Weekend For Northern Ireland Lifeboats As Summer Season Ends

2nd September 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Northern Ireland lifeboat crews marked the end of the summer season with a number of callouts over the weekend. On Saturday afternoon (31 August) Portaferry’s inshore lifeboat wad called out to reports that two Flying Fifteen keelboats had capsized on Strangford…

Red Bay Lifeboat Rescues Fives On Yacht Struggling In Rough Conditions

31st August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Five people were rescued off North Co Antrim yesterday afternoon (Friday 30 August) when their 33ft yacht got into difficulty near Rathlin Island. Red Bay RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat 1.20pm following a report that…

Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Two Medical Evacuations For Aran Islands Lifeboat On Wednesday

29th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Two people were evacuated from the Aran Islands for medical reasons by the area’s RNLI lifeboat yesterday (Wednesday 28 August). At 4.50pm the all-weather lifeboat David Kirkaldy called to launch from Inis Mór to neighbouring Inis Meain where an elderly…

Kilkeel RNLI’s inshore lifeboat headed for Carlingford Lough yesterday afternoon

Kilkeel Lifeboat Races To Speedboat Breakdown In Carlingford Lough Busy With Shipping

28th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilkeel’s volunteer lifeboat crew worked fast to help clear a speedboat with engine troubles from a busy shipping lane yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 27 August). The 16ft Bayliner, with one person on board, had broken down in Carlingford Lough and was…

Larne RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Terry en route to Ballygally

Busy Bank Holiday For NI Lifeboats In Larne & Portaferry

27th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI’s volunteer crew were kept busy with two callouts in quick succession on yesterday’s Bank Holiday (Monday 26 August), while the Portaferry lifeboat had an early-hours launch to aid a yacht run around in Strangford Lough. Larne’s inshore lifeboat…

The 34ft yacht dismasted near Dalkey Island yesterday

Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Launches To Yacht Dismasted Off Dalkey Island

26th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire RNLI launched to a 34ft yacht unexpectedly dismasted while sailing near Dalkey Island yesterday afternoon (Sunday 25 August). The skipper aboard the yacht was able to call the coastguard by VHF radio, and the volunteer lifeboat crew were…

Wicklow’s all-weather lifeboat brings the stricken motor cruiser under tow into Wicklow Harbour

Motor Cruiser With Two People & Three Dogs On Board Rescued By Wicklow Lifeboat

25th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI brought two people and three dogs to safety yesterday afternoon (Saturday 24 August) after their 33ft motor cruiser got fouled in ropes off the Wicklow coast. The all-weather lifeboat Jock & Annie Slater put to sea shortly at…

Sinead Myler — with her father Jimmy — who completed her first callout with Arklow RNLI on Wednesday

Arklow Lifeboat Helps Three On Broken-Down Fishing Boat Ahead Of Search For Kayaker

23rd August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI launched twice on Wednesday (21 August), first to go the aid of three onboard a broken down boat and later to search for a kayaker reported missing. The volunteer crew were first requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat…

Aran Islands Lifeboat Crew In Medevac Of Injured Tourist

20th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands lifeboat volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat on Saturday afternoon (17 August) to carry out a medical evacuation for an injured tourist. The female visitor to Inis Mór had sustained a suspected fractured leg while out sightseeing, Aran Islands…

Fr Liam Boyle (pictured centre) served on the RNLI Arranmore lifeboat in Donegal

Priest Says He Will Miss "Adrenaline Rush" of Being on RNLI Lifeboat Crew

20th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A Donegal-based priest who had had to quit his voluntary role as crew member of an RNLI lifeboat has said he will miss the “adrenaline rush” writes Lorna Siggins Fr Liam Boyle served on the RNLI Arranmore lifeboat in Donegal…

Two Launches Within Five Hours On Saturday For Portaferry Lifeboat

18th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry’s volunteer lifeboat crew had a busy Saturday (17 August), launching twice before providing rescue cover at a local triathlon event. The first callout was in the morning to a 21ft yacht with engine failure that was at risk of…

Thomas Davis (left) and Rob King of RNLI Clifden

Clifden RNLI Changes See New lifesaving Roles On the West Coast of Ireland

16th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Two Clifden RNLI lifeboat crew past and present have been promoted to two new roles in the charity. Rob King, the former full-time mechanic for Clifden lifeboat station has been appointed as the RNLI’s Area Lifesaving Manager for the West…

Story Of Lifeboat Crew Billed For Lost Inflatable Is A Tall Tale, Says RNLI

16th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Don’t believe everything you read, the RNLI advises, after the lifesaving charity was forced to debunk claims it was recently billed for an inflatable toy lost during the rescue of a child. According to The Independent, there appear to have…

Lough Ree RNLI Carriy out Medical Evacuation After Woman on Boat Becomes Unwell

15th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Ree RNLI came to the aid of a woman who became unwell on a boat on the lake on Tuesday evening and required a medical evacuation. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 9.15pm by…

Ruth’s fiancé Jim Griffin presents a cheque for £9,000 to Newcastle RNLI’s station coxswain Nathan Leneghan (right) and fellow crew members who were involved in the search, from left, Sean Cunningham, station mechanic Shane Rice, Gerry McConkey and David Hughes. Also included is Newcastle RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Lisa Ramsden.

Family Raise £9,000 for Newcastle RNLI in Memory of Local Woman Ruth Maguire

14th August 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The family of Ruth Maguire, who was drowned in Carlingford Lough last March, have raised £9,000 for Newcastle RNLI in her memory. Newcastle RNLI was involved in the search for Ruth along with other search and rescue agencies and recovered…

Start
Prev
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
Next
End

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