RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The pleasure boat was unable to be recovered

Bangor & Donaghadee Lifeboats Launch To Fishing Boat On Rocks

2nd September 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Two RNLI lifeboats were launched on Friday (31 August) at the request of Belfast Coastguard to assist a pleasure fishing boat with four people onboard off Carrickfergus. Bangor RNLI was first to launch at 3.15pm to reports that a…

Man Bitten by Shark Medevac by RNLI Crosshaven

1st September 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

A Belfast man sustained a serious lower arm injury this evening after being bitten by a Blue Shark whilst angling. Crosshaven RNLI Volunteers received the information at 6 pm this evening and launched immediately. The Deep Sea Angling boat “…

Lough Ree RNLI attends the grounded hire boat on the Longford shore

Lough Ree Lifeboat Rescues Four From Boat Hard Aground

30th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI volunteers have rescued four people whose 37-foot boat had run hard aground on the Longford shore. At 12.17pm yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 29 August) the Irish Coast Guard in Malin Head tasked the Lough Ree inshore lifeboat…

Arklow’s lifeboat Ger Tigchelarr tows a fishing vessel with machinery failure

Early Start For Arklow Lifeboat To Fishing Vessel In Difficulty

28th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Following a pager alert by the Irish Coast Guard at 7.28am yesterday morning (Monday 27 August) Arklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty. Within a few minutes, the Ger Tigchelarr and her…

Fundraising chair Valerie Good names the new lifeboat in the traditional manner

Kinsale RNLI Names New Lifeboat In Memory Of Donor, ‘Godmother’ & Longtime Friend

27th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - With the sun shining down on the assembled crowd, the new Atlantic 85 B class lifeboat for Kinsale RNLI was officially named ‘Miss Sally Anne Baggy II - Never Fear, Baggy’s Here’ during a ceremony at the Kinsale lifeboat…

Courmacsherry’s lifeboat crew with the rescued setter

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Rescues Pleasure Boat On Callout To Dog Stranded On Rocks

27th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was called out at 5.20pm on Friday evening (24 August) when a dog was reported to be stranded on remote rocks at the base of a steep cliff, near the Fuschia Walk in Courtmacsherry Bay.…

Clifden cyclists with support driver Joe Acton ready for September’s one-day fundraiser

Clifden Friends To Cycle 310km While Wearing Lifejackets To Raise Awareness

26th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A one-day cycling fundraiser for the RNLI is set to take place on Sunday 16 September when four cycling friends will ride 310km from Dublin to Clifden in Co Galway while wearing lifejackets for the entire trip. Clifden…

Bundoran RNLI also received €6,000 from Avolon Aerospace Leasing Co Ltd to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the drowning of brothers Brendan and Thomas Patton and their cousin Eddie Donagher

Tyrone Family Raises €5,000 For Bundoran Lifeboat Following Summer Rescue

26th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A Co Tyrone family rescued by Bundoran RNLI this summer has returned to the lifeboat station to present the volunteer crew with a cheque for €5,000, proceeds of a successful fundraising event. Ryan, Fianche, Cahir, Beth and Marc McCallion…

RNLI volunteers assist one of the three kayakers who attempted to aid the rescue of an injured teenager in Courtown Harbour, as featured on BBC Two’s Saving Lives at Sea this Thursday 23 August

Courtown Lifeboat Volunteers Feature In New Series Of ‘Saving Lives At Sea’

21st August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Courtown’s RNLI lifeboat volunteers feature in the new series of Saving Lives at Sea on BBC Two this week. Now on its third year, Saving Lives at Sea puts the spotlight on the RNLI’s army of unpaid volunteers around…

The paddle boarder is returned to shore by the Skerries inshore lifeboat Louis Simson

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Teen Paddle Boarder Blown Out To Sea

15th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Hours after rescuing a family of five from their grounded yacht, Skerries RNLI launched to the aid of a teenager blown out to sea on a stand-up paddle board yesterday evening (Tuesday 14 August). Skerries RNLI was tasked along…

Clifden Lifeboat Recovers Seven Cut Off By Tide

14th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI’s D class lifeboat Celia Mary was on exercise at Glassilaun Beach for the annual sports day on Sunday (12 August) when it was alerted to a group of people cut off by the tide. The inshore lifeboat…

Bangor RNLI tows the speedboat into harbour

Bangor Lifeboat Assists Speedboat With Lost Propeller After Collision

14th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Last Wednesday evening (8 August), two men enjoying an evening’s fishing on their speedboat near Groomsport in Co Down hit rocks and lost their propeller. Bangor RNLI were quickly called to the scene for what was described as “a…

Skerries RNLI's volunteers on a previous launch

Family Of Five Rescued In Skerries After Yacht Runs Aground

14th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A family of five were rescued by Skerries RNLI in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday 14 August) after their yacht ran aground at the North Co Dublin town’s harbour. As RTÉ News reports, the family, who are…

Two People & Their Dog Rescued From Vessel In Difficulty By Portaferry Lifeboat

12th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged yesterday afternoon (Saturday 11 August) to go to the aid of two people stranded on Guns Island off Co Down. The lifeboat launched at 3:20pm in overcast weather with good visibility and a…

The man had become disorientated whilst navigating in darkness in the area of Tamlaght Bay, Upper Lough Erne

Carrybridge RNLI Assist RIB Boater 'Disorientated' While Navigating Lough Erne

10th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 1.30am on Friday 10 August, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards and Rescue Water Craft (RWC) launched following a request by Belfast Coastguard to assist a man who had become disorientated whilst navigating in darkness in…

Wicklow’s inshore lifeboat tows the stricken angling boat to safety

Wicklow Lifeboat Aids Angling Boat With Mechanical Failure

10th August 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A small angling boat with one person on board was towed to safety by Wicklow RNLI after it got into difficulty near Wicklow Head on Wednesday evening (8 August). The angler had earlier departed from Wicklow Port for a…

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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