RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Killaloe Coast Guard was also on scene and took the yacht off the sandy bank

Lough Derg RNLI & Killaloe Coastguard Lifeboats Assist Lone Sailor on 30ft yacht Aground in Scariff Bay

15th April 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

At 6.29pm on Saturday April 14, Lough Derg RNLI was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard to assist a lone sailor on a 30–ft yacht aground in Scariff Bay At 6.40pm, the lifeboat launched with helm Dom Sharkey, Eleanor…

Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Lone Sailor On Stricken Yacht

12th April 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Pagers sounded yesterday (Wednesday 11 April) for the volunteers from Portaferry RNLI to assist a man onboard an 18ft yacht experiencing problems off the Co Down coast. The yachtsman was two miles from the entrance to Strangford Lough…

The Lough Derg lifeboat, with helm Ger Egan, Owen Cavanagh and Delia Ho on board located the vessel

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Assists 40ft Cruiser Aground Near Hare Island

6th April 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI launched yesterday afternoon following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to assist two people after their 40ft–cruiser grounded inside the red navigation mark by Hare Island. The lifeboat, with helm Ger Egan, Owen Cavanagh and Delia Ho…

The RNLI Larne inshore boat ensured that the tow line was set up speedily and the two men onboard were brought to the safety of shore without delay

Motor Boat Drifting Towards Rocks is Towed By Larne RNLI (VIDEO)

26th March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat Terry yesterday afternoon (Sunday 25 March) to a 21ft motor vessel experiencing engine difficulties near Browns Bay. The inshore lifeboat launched at 3.22pm and quickly made its way to the scene at Skernaghan Point,…

Baltimore Lifeboat Launches To Broken Down Trawler

24th March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI were called out in the early hours of yesterday morning (Friday 23 March) to a fishing trawler with five people on board which had broken down close to shore. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather…

Arranmore RNLI assist the distressed fisherman off Gola Island

Arranmore Lifeboat Rescues Fisherman After Boat Runs Aground

21st March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI in Co Donegal assisted a fisherman who got into difficulty off Gola Island at the weekend when his small boat ran aground on rocks. The all-weather lifeboat was called out at 11am on Sunday 18 March and…

Clifden Lifeboat Rescues Missing Spear Divers On St Patrick’s Day Callout

19th March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Minutes after participating in the local St Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday 17 March, Clifden RNLI joined a full-scale search and rescue operation for two spear divers reported missing. Clifden’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats were tasked alongside Achill…

Lough Ree RNLI volunteers Liam Sherringham, Shane McCormack and Matt Welsh, with lifeboat operations manager Tony McCarth fellow Eamonn Flynn, Donie Hearaghty and Ciaran Harte at the launch of the 2018 Lap of Lough Ree

Fifth ‘Lap Of Lough Ree’ Launched To Raise Funds For Local RNLI

13th March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI has launched their fifth Lap of Lough Ree, which will take place this year on Sunday 22 April raising funds for the lifeboat service in Athlone. The 85km cycle will go anti-clockwise around Lough Ree,…

Portaferry RNLI’s Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Bluepeter V tows the stricken yacht to Strangford

Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Man & His Dog On Stricken Yacht

13th March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A volunteer crew from Portaferry RNLI were paged yesterday afternoon (Monday 12 March) to go to the aid of a man on a yacht experiencing engine problems. The man was travelling on his 13-metre yacht from Bangor to…

Clogherhead Lifeboat Assists Medevac Of Injured Fisherman

11th March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clogherhead RNLI assisted a fisherman in need of medical attention on Thursday evening (8 March). The all-weather lifeboat was launched around 5.45pm following a request for a medevac from a small fishing boat operating off Gormanstown and north-east…

The woman and her dog were safely transferred to shore by the Portaferry RNLI volunteers

Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Dog Walker Stranded On Strangford Lough Island

7th March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 6 March), a volunteer crew from Portaferry RNLI was tasked to go the aid of a woman stranded on one of Strangford Lough’s many islands. The woman had been walking her dog on Rough Island,…

The lifeboat and pilot boat Michael Evans from Belfast Harbour met in Belfast Lough at the Fairway Buoy where a pilot went aboard the fishing vessel

Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat Tow 117ft Spanish Fishing Vessel to Belfast Harbour

5th March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew with Donaghadee RNLI abandoned their Saturday evening to assist a 315 tonne Spanish fishing boat with 18 crew members onboard, which had a broken down engine, and bring it safety in Belfast Harbour. Donaghadee RNLI all-weather lifeboat…

A scene from Coliemore Harbour on Dublin Bay during Storm Emma

Irish Coast Guard & RNLI Issue Joint Call for Caution Around Coastal Areas & Rivers After Storm Emma

3rd March 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

In the aftermath of storm Emma and the heavy snowfalls around the country the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI have issued a joint call for people to exercise caution and remain vigilant around the coast and near rivers. High…

Baltimore Lifeboat On 11-Hour Callout To Assist Trawler

28th February 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI were called out on Monday afternoon (26 February) to a fishing trawler that had broken down 50 miles south of Baltimore in West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 2.12pm after the…

Arranmore RNLI’s three new lifeboat recruits

Arranmore RNLI Welcome Onboard New Volunteers & Honorary Station President

26th February 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI has just announced some new recruits to the lifeboat station, including an honorary president and three volunteer lifeboat crew. Majella O’Donnell has been appointed station president. Majella met with the lifeboat crew last Tuesday 20 February at…

The lifeboat, commanded by Aidan O’Connor with Norman Jackson, Jenna O’Shea and Georgia Keating were only a few minutes from the incident when tasked by Valentia Marine Rescue centre

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Casualty from Rocky Shore

23rd February 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI volunteers led an inter agency rescue yesterday evening (Thursday 22 February) after being diverted from exercise to a person who had fallen on rocks at Fountainstown and was found in a serious condition by a member of the…

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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