RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Kilkeel RNLI alongside the fishing boat which reported an ill crew member yesterday evening

Kilkeel Lifeboat Launches To Fisherman Taken Ill

27th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Kilkeel RNLI’s volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 7.55pm yesterday evening (Thursday 26 July) after a crew member of a fishing boat was reported unwell and in need of medical attention. Winds were blowing 3 to 4 knots…

Galway Lifeboat Rescues German Students Stranded On Hare Island

27th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Three young German visitors were rescued by Galway RNLI after getting stranded on Hare Island in Galway Bay yesterday afternoon (Thursday 26 July). The three students were trapped on the island after the tide came in shortly before 12.30pm.…

Mayday Callout for Lough Derg RNLI to Cruiser 'Sinking'

26th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 2.12pm today Lough Derg RNLI to launched following a Mayday relay from Valentia Coast Guard to assist two people reported to be in the water after their 28ft–cruiser was 'taking on water and sinking'. Valentia Coast Guard gave co-ordinates…

Donaghadee’s all-weather lifeboat Saxon will be open to the public Saturday afternoon as part of the annual festival

All Aboard For Donaghadee’s Lifeboat Festival This Weekend

26th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Donaghdee RNLI has put together a packed itinerary for their forthcoming Lifeboat Festival this coming Saturday 28 July. The popular maritime festival has gone from strength to strength each year, with locals and visitors exploring the maritime heritage…

File image of Baltimore’s lifeboat crew preparing for a medevac

Baltimore Lifeboat In Medevac From Cape Clear Island

26th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI carried out a medical evacuation yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 25 July) from Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard…

Bundoran Lifeboat In Two Sunday Calls For Assistance

23rd July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Bundoran RNLI responded to two calls for assistance yesterday (Sunday 22 July) by an angling boat with a fouled propeller and a yachtsman suddenly taken ill. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched after 10am following a call to go the…

Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Rescues Six From Dive Boat Off Kinsale

23rd July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI rescued six people yesterday afternoon (Sunday 22 July) when their 20ft RIB dive boat got into difficulties at the Old Head of Kinsale. The all-weather lifeboat under coxswain Kevin Young and a crew of six launched…

Wicklow’s all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker

Wicklow Lifeboat Assists Yacht Taking On Water

23rd July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker launched shortly after 3.10pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 22 July) after the skipper of a yacht taking on water called for assistance. The lifeboat — under the command of coxswain Nick Keogh and with…

Clifden RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat on exercise

Clifden Lifeboat In Medevac After Cycling Incident On Inishbofin

19th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched on Tuesday evening (17 July) for the medevac of a young woman who sustained a serious head injury in a cycling accident on Inishbofin. Arriving at the island’s harbour at 8.53pm, lifeboat crew members Joe…

Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches To Cruiser With Electrical Fault

17th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Lough Derg RNLI launched to assist two adults on a 30ft cruiser with electrical failure deep in Youghal Bay off Garrykennedy yesterday afternoon, Monday 16 July. Valentia Coast Guard requested the lifeboat to launch at 2pm to the casualty…

Bundoran RNLI was called by Malin Head Coast Guard

Bundoran RNLI Rescue Three Swimmers From Rip Current

17th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew with Bundoran RNLI rescued three swimmers last night (Monday 16 July) from the sea off Bundoran Beach after they got caught in a rip current. Sea conditions changed suddenly when the father and his two sons went…

A yacht went aground near the Fort sandbank at the entrance to Wexford Harbour

Wexford RNLI Launch for Yacht Aground on Sandbank

16th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew at Wexford RNLI were called out three times over the weekend. On Saturday (14 July), the crew were launched at 6:25 pm to a motorboat adrift with engine failure in the Slaney Estuary. The second callout came…

The yacht was on passage from Cobh to Baltimore when the call out for assistance was raised with Valentia Radio Coastguard after her prop was fouled

Fouled Yacht Propeller Results in Courtmacsherry RNLI Call Out

15th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was called out at 2.20pm this afternoon to go to the aid of a 41ft–yacht that had got into difficulties and sought help just off the Seven Heads in West Cork. The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat…

The motor cruiser was on a passage from Cahersiveen Marina to Dingle harbour off the County Kerry coast when the engine caught fire

Motor Cruiser on Fire, Three Rescued South of Dingle, County Kerry

15th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Valentia RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat yesterday afternoon (Saturday 14 July) to assist a 37ft motor cruiser with three people on board, which had caught fire. At 1.00pm the Valentia Coast Guard requested Valentia RNLI all-weather lifeboat to assist…

Carrybridge RNLI and stricken cruisers setting up a towline

Unlucky Friday The 13th For Cruiser With Engine Trouble On Upper Lough Erne

14th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Friday 13 July was an unlucky one for a 26ft sports cruiser with engine trouble close to Naan Island on Upper Lough Erne. Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards launched at 3.23pm yesterday to the cruiser which…

Coastguard rescue team members stretcher the injured cyclist to the lifeboat

Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Cyclist After Coastal Path Fall

8th July 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Bangor RNLI’s volunteer crew headed to the shore in front of Royal Belfast Golf Club early yesterday afternoon (Saturday 7 July) to assist in the rescue of a young woman who had fallen to the rocks below. Members of…

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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