RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

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…

The year-long trial, which starts today 29 April, 2019 will provide HM Coastguard Rescue Teams with more eyes in the sky to assist with search and rescue operations

Search & Rescue Drone Trial Announced in UK

29th April 2019 Coastguard

For the next 12 months, a new drone trial is taking flight to support vital search and rescue action around the coast of Essex, thanks to a partnership between Essex Police, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal…

Baltimore RNLI launches during Storm Hannah

Baltimore & Portaferry Lifeboats Launch During Storm Hannah

27th April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboats in Baltimore and Portaferry were launched yesterday evening (Friday 26 April) as Storm Hannah swept over the island of Ireland. Baltimore RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 8.30pm after learning of a local fishing trawler that…

The lifeboat crew battled sea conditions reaching force nine to assist the vessel with a crew of two people onboard

Castletownbere RNLI Assist Fishing Vessel During Storm Hannah

26th April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew at Castletownbere RNLI were launched this evening (Friday 26 April) at 6.16pm to assist a 33ft fishing vessel which had lost all power in Bere Haven Harbour in West Cork. The callout came during a severe weather warning…

A 28ft yacht on passage from Oban in Scotland to Belfast got into difficulty when its five-person crew became ill in challenging sea conditions

Red Bay RNLI Assist Yacht in Rolling Seas off Antrim Coast as Crew Fall ill

24th April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Both Red Bay RNLI lifeboats launched this morning (Wednesday 24 April) when a 28ft yacht on passage from Oban in Scotland to Belfast got into difficulty when its five-person crew became ill in challenging sea conditions and were unable to…

End of an Era as Wicklow RNLI Bid Farewell to Tyne Class Lifeboat That Rescued 408 people

23rd April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

This Sunday (28 April 2019) Wicklow RNLI will bid farewell to their beloved lifeboat Annie Blaker, the last operational Tyne Class lifeboat in the RNLI’s fleet. The historic vessel will launch for the final time at Wicklow lifeboat station on…

Killaloe Coast Guard volunteers with the dog they brought to safety along with its owners after their cruiser lost power

Four People & Dog Rescued In Separate Easter Monday Incidents On Lough Derg

23rd April 2019 Rescue

#Rescue - Lough Derg RNLI and Killaloe Coast Guard launched to separate incidents on Easter Monday (22 April) that between them saw four people and a dog rescued on the lough. In the first incident, Lough Derg’s inshore lifeboat launched to…

Arklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Ger Tigchlearr

Busy Easter Weekend For RNLI Lifeboat Callouts Around Ireland’s Coast

23rd April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

It was a busy weekend for RNLI lifeboats in Arklow, Larne and Kilmore Quay which each had callouts over the Easter period. Arklow RNLI launched on Sunday afternoon (21 April) to assist a jetski in difficulty following a launch request…

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards

Carrybridge RNLI Assist two Vessels at the start of the Easter Holidays

22nd April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

At 1.14pm on the Saturday 20 April Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards and Rescue Water Craft (RWC) were launched to a vessel with two people which had run aground North West of Knockninny. Winds were Southerly,…

File photo of Portaferry RNLI's inshore lifeboat

Portaferry Lifeboat Launches To Fishing Vessel With Engine Failure

21st April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI launched to the aid of a fishing vessel with three on board which suffered engine failure on Strangford Lough yesterday afternoon (Saturday 20 April). Volunteers were paged while taking part in in a ‘crew day’, whereby they gathered to clean…

The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Crew on Callout as they arrive back into Courtmacsherry at 4 am this morning: Sean O Farrell, Mechanic Tadgh McCarthy and Crew members Ken Cashman, Denis Murphy, Evin O Sullivan and Conor Tyndall

Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Callout to Irish Yacht Heading for Spain

21st April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry All-Weather RNLI Lifeboat was called out at 7.40 pm last night (Saturday) to go to the aid of a 40 ft Yacht which sought assistance 34 Miles off Courtmacsherry and due south of the Seven Heads peninsula in…

The lifeboat crew set up for tow and eased the cruiser off the rocks and into safe water

Lough Derg RNLI Launch to 60-ft Vessel Aground in Coose Bay

19th April 2019 RNLI Lifeboats

At 3:40pm Thursday 18th April, Lough Derg RNLI was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to assist 7 people on a 60-ft cruiser aground in Coose Bay, between Split Rock and Hagen Rock. Volunteer crew, with helm Eleanor Hooker, Owen Cavanagh,…

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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