RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

RNLI launches its annual Mayday for funds

RNLI Launches Mayday for Funds with Rescued Cork Dinghy Sailor after Figures Show Sharp Rise in Summer Rescues

28th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI is launching its Mayday Mile fundraiser today (Tuesday 27 April) as the charity’s rescue figures for 2020 show that over half (53%) of its 945 lifeboat launches took place in the months of June, July and August. Volunteer…

Carrybridge RNLI assisted seven people on two separate call outs at the weekend

Two Callouts for Carrybridge RNLI Lifeboat on Lough Erne

27th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

At 3.45 pm on Sunday 25 April, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards and Rescue Water Craft (RWC) was launched to a vessel with two people on board, which had encountered engine difficulties approx. 2 miles north…

Courtmacsherry RNLI’s crew masked up and ready to respond

Callout to Surfer in Difficulty Caps Full Weekend for Courtmacsherry Lifeboat

26th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather Trent class lifeboat Frederick Story Cockburn was called out yesterday afternoon, Sunday 26 April at 3.40pm as people reported a surfer in difficulty off Garrylucas Beach near the Old Head of Kinsale. The lifeboat under coxswain Ken…

Skerries RNLI’s inshore lifeboat approaches a group of children stranded on Shenick Island by the incoming tide

Skerries Lifeboat Volunteers Rescue Nine People Over Busy Weekend

26th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI rescued five children and four adults after responding to two separate incidents over the weekend. Shortly after 6pm on Saturday evening (24 April), the pagers sounded following multiple 999 calls reporting that three children in the water trying…

Howth RNLI approach the sailing cruiser aground off Ireland's Eye

Yacht Hard Aground, Howth RNLI Rescue Family of Seven off Ireland's Eye

26th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI launched both the all-weather lifeboat and the inshore lifeboat to come to the aid of a sailboat with a family of seven people aboard after they ran aground off Ireland's Eye. The RNLI pagers sounded at 3.10 pm…

A helium balloon shining in the sun was mistaken for a distress signal on Lough Swilly

Helium Balloon Shining in the Sun Prompts Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Launch

26th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Swilly RNLI in County Donegal was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard at 2.26 pm Sunday 25th April to reports of a distress signal sighted around the Leenan Head area of the Lough. After a short search, it was…

Ballycotton RNLI all-weather Trent class lifeboat the Austin Lidbury tows home the broken down fishing vessel

Ballycotton RNLI Tow Fishing Vessel Home to Cork Harbour

26th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballycotton RNLI all-weather Trent class lifeboat the Austin Lidbury was tasked by Valentia Coast Guard at 11.25 am yesterday to a report of a fishing vessel with engine failure approximately 5 miles off Flat Head, south of Cork Harbour. Conditions…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Assists 20ft Motorboat with Engine Failure South of the Scilly Islands

25th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

At 11.30 am today, Sunday 25 April, whilst out on exercise, Lough Derg RNLI volunteers in County Tipperary noticed the passengers of a 20ft motorboat waving to them to signal their distress. The motorboat was south of the Scilly Islands…

Kitesurfer Dylan Green after carrying out the rescue on Friday evening

‘Just Delighted to Help’ Says Kitesurfer Who Rescued Swimmer off Seven Heads Peninsula

25th April 2021 Rescue

A kitesurfer who rescued a swimmer off the Seven Heads in Cork on Friday evening (23 April) said he was “just delighted to help”. As TheJournal.ie reports, Dylan Green was out on his board when he was alerted to a…

Howth RNLI rescue kite-surfer in difficulty

Howth RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Kite-surfer in Difficulty off Sutton Strand

25th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI was on exercise this afternoon Saturday 24th April when it received a call to join the Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 116 who were tasked to locate a kite-surfer who had got into difficulty off Sutton Strand in…

The Red Bay lifeboat launching on the callout this morning from Cushendall

Red Bay RNLI Rescues Three After a Fishing Boat is Grounded on Rocks Near Glenarm

24th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Red Bay RNLI launched their B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat at 9.20 am this morning (Saturday 24 April) after reports that a small fishing boat with three crew onboard was grounded on rocks one mile south of Glenarm Marina on…

Fethard RNLI at the €37,000 cheque presentation from from Integer New Ross

New Ross Firm Raises €37,000 for Fethard RNLI to help Save Lives at Sea

24th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI has received a generous €37,000 donation from Integer New Ross this week, after the company’s staff and management chose the lifeboat station as its charity of the year. Volunteers at Fethard RNLI were delighted to be considered and…

The RNLI lifeboat took the vessel under tow and ensured their safe arrival at the Portaferry marina

Yacht Call Out for Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat on Strangford Lough

24th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI lifeboat crew was called out on 22nd April to a yacht with engine failure at the entrance to Strangford Lough. The entrance at the southern end of the Ards Peninsula leads to the Strangford Narrows through which the…

Skerries RNLI recovering a lifebuoy from the water during a search for potentially missing swimmers off Balbriggan on Wednesday evening 21 April

Skerries Lifeboat Launches in Multi-Agency Response to Swimmer in Difficulty

23rd April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI’s volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat on Wednesday evening (21 April) as part of a multi-agency response to reports of a swimmer in difficulty near the Martello tower in Balbriggan. The Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson was launched within…

Philip McNamara, Coxswain. John Petrie, Crew Member of over 30 years. Michael Field, Crew Member of over 30 years. Mark Nelson, Crew Member of over 20 years

Donaghadee RNLI Volunteers Receive Long Service Recognition

20th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Three Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat volunteer crew members in Northern Ireland have had their long term service to the institution recognised by RNLI headquarters in Poole in the form of long service medals. The three crew members have together accrued over…

Skerries RNLI approaching the windsurfers off Gormanstown Beach

Concern for Windsurfers Prompts Launch for Skerries Lifeboat

19th April 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI launched Saturday evening (17 April) following reports of two windsurfers struggling to return to shore near Gormanstown Beach. Shortly before 6.30pm, Dublin Coast Guard tasked Skerries RNLI following a call from a concerned member of the public. They…

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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