RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The Bundoran RNLI Soapbox Race gets underway at 1pm this Sunday 2 June

Bundoran Lifeboat Crew Gears Up For Soapbox Sunday

28th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Final preparations are being made ahead of this weekend’s Bundoran RNLI Soapbox Race which takes place this Sunday 2 June at Astoria Road. Now in its eighth year, the event is organised and hosted by the volunteer crew of the…

Clogherhead RNLI’s new Shannon Class lifeboat Michael O’Brien

Clogherhead RNLI To Welcome Shannon Class Lifeboat ‘Home’ To Serve On East Coast

28th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Clogherhead locals are set to welcome the latest RNLI lifeboat in Ireland to the Co Louth town this Sunday 2 June. The Shannon class lifeboat Michael O’Brien lifeboat is due to arrive in Clogherhead at exactly 13.31 which is also…

Skerries RNLI tows the stricken motorboat to safety

Skerries Lifeboat Assists Four On Motor Vessel With Engine Failure

28th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI towed two adults and two teenagers to safety on Saturday afternoon (25 May) after their motorboat broke down east of Rockabill Lighthouse. Shortly after 5.30pm, Skerries RNLI were tasked by Dublin Coast Guard to assist a 21ft motorboat…

Clogherhead RNLI to Welcome State-of-the-Art Lifeboat Home to Serve on the East Coast

27th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The community of Clogherhead is set to welcome the latest RNLI lifeboat to be based in Ireland, to their town on Sunday 2 June. This Shannon class lifeboat is unique in the RNLI’s fleet as it has been funded by…

The paddleboarder was located safe and well and was happy to make his way back to Whitehead harbour. See vid below.

Larne RNLI Lifeboat Launch for Overdue Paddleboarder (VIDEO)

27th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI launched to search for a paddleboarder who was reported overdue from Whitehead yesterday afternoon (Sunday 26 May). Larne RNLI's all-weather and inshore lifeboats launched at 4.55pm following a request from Belfast Coastguard to assist in the search. Donaghadee…

Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat in Nine-Hour Night Call Out to Sick Fisherman

24th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew spent nine hours at sea last night to help bring a sick fisherman to safety. The crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at 9.45pm last night (Thursday…

Baltimore RNLI Rescues Two Sailors on 30ft Yacht Aground in Ilen River

23rd May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI rescued two sailors this morning (Thursday 23 May) after their 30ft yacht ran into navigational difficulty at the mouth of the Ilen River in West Cork. Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat under Coxswain Aidan Bushe and with six volunteer…

The lone sailor under tow by Portaferry lifeboat

Portaferry RNLI Rescues Lone Sailor After 25ft–Yacht Breaks Down in Irish Sea

23rd May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI rescued a lone sailor last night (Wednesday 22 May) after his 25ft yacht got into difficulty in the Irish Sea. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 8.51pm following a request from Belfast Coastguard…

Baltimore Lifeboat Assists In Medevac From Heir Island

23rd May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI carried out a medical evacuation last night (Wednesday 22 May) from Heir Island off the coast of West Cork. Baltimore’s volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 8.34pm to…

Youghal’s lifeboat crew helps pump out water from the vessel moored in Youghal Harbour

Youghal Lifeboat Aids Two People On Vessel Taking On Water

21st May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI launched to the aid of two people whose moored yacht was taking on water yesterday morning (Monday 20 May). The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard at 10.01am following a report that…

Youghal RNLI Shares Key Water Safety Advice Ahead Of Summer

19th May 2019 Water Safety

Youghal RNLI is encouraging people to respect the water and heed key water safety messages ahead of summer. The East Cork lifeboat station’s community safety team will be running a number of events throughout the summer and are inviting individuals…

Newly appointed Kinsale RNLI helm Jonathan Connor

Swimmer Saved On First Callout For Kinsale RNLI’s Youngest Helm

16th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Exactly one week after he was passed out as a helm on Kinsale’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Miss Sally Anne Baggy II, 21-year-old Jonathan Connor rescued a swimmer from the sea close to Sandycove Island in Co Cork. Miss Sally Anne…

Lough Derg RNLI Holds Naming Ceremony for new Atlantic 85 B-911 ‘Jean Spier’

14th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

At 2.30pm, Saturday, May 11 2019, Lough Derg RNLI held their naming ceremony for their new inshore lifeboat, the Atlantic 85 B911 ‘Jean Spier’, in Dromineer. The new B class lifeboat was donated to the RNLI by Robert Spier and…

Wicklow’s new all-weather lifeboat Jock and Annie Slater alongside the stricken motor cruiser

Wicklow Lifeboat Assists Motor Cruiser With Engine Troubles

10th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI’s new relief Shannon class lifeboat Jock and Annie Slater has had its fifth callout since going on station over a month ago to assist a motor cruiser with engine failure. The all-weather lifeboat slipped her moorings at 4.50pm…

The volunteer crew of the Lough Derg lifeboat on route to the motor boat

Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches To Assist Motor Boat Aground On Rocks

7th May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

A 21ft motor boat with two people on board was rescued by Lough Derg RNLI after it ran aground in the lough on Sunday afternoon (5 May). The volunteer crew with helm Eleanor Hooker, Joe O’Donoghue, Doireann Kennedy and Kjell…

Three fishermen had evacuated on to their life raft and had transferred to a nearby vessel

Arklow & Wicklow RNLI Involved in Rescue of Fishermen from boat on Fire

3rd May 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow and Wicklow RNLI were involved in the rescue of three fishermen yesterday evening after their 14m trawler caught fire and subsequently sank off the Wicklow coast. Volunteer lifeboat crew at Arklow and Wicklow RNLI were requested to launch their all-weather…

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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