RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The Dunmore East RNLI crew throws a towline to the stricken trawler

Dunmore East Lifeboat Rescues Trawler Drifting Onto Rocks

10th January 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched yesterday afternoon (Tuesday January 9) to assist a 23m trawler with four crew on board. The fishing vessel had suffered engine trouble and was drifting onto rocks one mile northeast of Dunmore…

Baltimore RNLI launching for yesterday’s medevac

Baltimore Lifeboat Provides Medevac From Sherkin Island

8th January 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Sunday 7 January) to provide a medical evacuation from Sherkin Island. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 3.50pm to provide medical assistance…

Fethard RNLI launch to recover abandoned kayak

'Kayak Floating in the Sea' Prompts Fethard RNLI Call Out

1st January 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat this afternoon (Monday January 1 2018) to conduct a joint search with Fethard Coast Guard after a reported sighting of a kayak floating in the sea in the water off Crooke Chapel, Passage East,…

The lifeboat crew proceeded to the reported location, due west of Ballyhalbert Beach and approximately one mile North of Burial Island where two men were assisted onboard the lifeboat and their jet ski was taken under tow to Ballyharbert Harbour.

Jet Skiers in Difficulty Rescued by Donaghadee RNLI

1st January 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Donaghadee RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew assisted two people to safety this morning (1 January) after they got into difficulty on their jet ski and a member of the public raised the alarm. The volunteer crew were paged at 11.42am by…

With a strong south westerly force six to seven wind, the stranded surfer was soon a mile off shore

Surfer Caught in Rip Current Rescued by Rosslare Harbour RNLI off Wexford Coast (VIDEO)

1st January 2018 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched this afternoon (1 January) at 1.15pm to go to the assistance of a surfer caught in a dangerous rip current. Two surfers had got caught in the rip current off Curracloe beach in…

The all-weather lifeboat Alan Massey is prepped for the day’s first callout, a medevac from Heir Island

Baltimore Lifeboat Launches Twice On Friday As Rough Seas Herald Winter Storm

30th December 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI launched twice in the space of a few hours yesterday (Friday 29 December) — firstly to provide a medevac from Heir Island, and later to assist bodyboarders in difficulty at Barleycove. The volunteer crew launched their…

Red Bay RNLI located the missing walkers

Red Bay RNLI Called Out to Walkers on Fair Head in Freezing Temperatures

28th December 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew with Red Bay RNLI were called out this evening (Thursday 28 December) to reports that two walkers were stranded on the Boulder Field at Fair Head, Antrim, in freezing temperatures. Red Bay RNLI located the missing walkers…

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

First Call For New Carrybridge Lifeboat To Capsized Canoeists

28th December 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Carrybridge RNLI’s new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Douglas, Euan & Kay Richards launched on its first callout yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 27 December 2017) along with the station’s rescue water craft. The volunteer lifeboat crew based on Upper Lough…

Man Saved By Wexford RNLI After ‘Hours’ Clinging To Quay Wall

23rd December 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A man who slipped into the water alongside Wexford Quay was rescued by Wexford RNLI after clinging to the quay wall for several hours. The man, in his late 30s, was spotted by gardaí before 4am on Friday…

The all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparran tows the stricken motorboat to Larne Harbour

Larne Lifeboat Assists Two In Motorboat Breakdown Off Antrim Coast

20th December 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Larne RNLI launched to the aid of two people on Monday morning (18 December) after their 33ft motorboat had engine difficulties en route from Carrickfergus to Greencastle. The all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparran was requested to assist the…

Galway Lifeboat Rescues Fisherman With Hand Injury

10th December 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Independent.ie reports that a fisherman with a hand injury was hospitalised after his rescue from a trawler off Salthill by Galway RNLI yesterday afternoon (Saturday 9 December). The volunteer lifeboat crew launched within 10 minutes of the alarm…

Union Hall RNLI to be Formally Established on a Permanent Basis

4th December 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers at Union Hall RNLI are celebrating the news that their lifeboat station in West Cork is to be formally established following a successful trial. The recommendation subject to the provision of a long term shoreworks solution was approved at…

Dunmore East's Trent class lifeboat sustained damage after another boat is thought to have collided the pontoon it was moored alongside

Dunmore East Lifeboat Out Of Action After Harbour Incident

1st December 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat sustained damage overnight while moored alongside its pontoon in the Co Waterford harbour. Impact by another vessel in the early hours of this morning (Friday 1 December) resulted in damage to both the…

Skerries RNLI position the razor boat alongside Loughshinny Harbour

Skerries Lifeboat Assists Razor Fisherman With Steering Issues

18th November 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI assisted a 12-metre razor fishing vessel that developed steering problems near Loughshinny last night (Friday 17 November). Shortly before 9pm, one of the volunteer crew raised the alarm after receiving a phone call from a fisherman…

Courtmacsherry RNLI tows the trawler to the safety of Kinsale Harbour on Saturday night during Ireland’s match with Denmark

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Rescues Four On Trawler In Trouble

13th November 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was called out at 7pm on Saturday night (11 November) to go to the aid of an 80ft fishing boat that got into difficulties 15 miles south of the Seven Heads in West Cork.…

The new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat at Carrybridge

New Carrybridge RNLI Lifeboat on Lough Erne

10th November 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

A new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat has gone on service at Carrybridge RNLI. The lifeboat which arrived at the Upper Lough Erne lifeboat station on Tuesday (7 November), replaces Duckhams 2001, which has been used to rescue people on Lough…

Start
Prev
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
Next
End

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