RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Pictured at the launch of the RNLI’s Cork Reindeer to be held on Sunday 26th November at Fota Park is (Clockwise back Left) Crosshaven lifeboat crew Maeve Leonard and Vincent Fleming, Alex Fegan (11) Derval O’Rourke, and Maggie O’Brien (12)

Derval O'Rourke Backs RNLI Reindeer Run for Fitness, Fun & Raising Funds For a Good Cause

8th November 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

Cork athlete, broadcaster and self-confessed foodie, Derval O’Rourke, says the RNLI’s Reindeer Run is the perfect opportunity to get fit, have fun and raise funds for a good cause. Derval is the charity’s Ambassador for the popular annual family event,…

Arranmore Lifeboat Rescues Fishermen In Quick Callout

7th November 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arranmore RNLI in Co Donegal was called out yesterday morning (Monday 6 November) at 11.45am to assist a 19ft fishing boat with two people onboard. The small boat was approximately 400 metres from Arranmore Lifeboat Station when it…

Skerries RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Fishermen From Sinking Razor Boat

2nd November 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI rescued two fishermen from a sinking razor fishing boat near Laytown early this morning (Thursday 2 November). Shortly before 5.30am, Dublin Coast Guard received an emergency call from the skipper of a razor fishing boat with…

RNLI On Lough Derg Respond to Vessel Reported To Be On Fire

30th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

At 2.34pm, Monday October 30, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat launched following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to assist two people and a dog on boat a vessel reported to be on fire. The wind was south-westerly, F1 and with…

Dunmore East's lifeboat crew use their salvage pump to keep the fishing vessel afloat

Dunmore East Lifeboat Assists Fishing Vessel Taking On Water

28th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI launched this past Wednesday afternoon (25 October) to assist a fishing vessel that was taking on water. The two crew of the 25ft vessel were coming into the Co Waterford harbour before 2.50pm when they…

Skerries RNLI launching their Atlantic 85 lifeboat

Medical Emergency On Lambay Island Prompts Skerries Lifeboat Launch

23rd October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched yesterday evening (Sunday 22 October) after receiving reports of a medical emergency on Lambay Island. Shortly after 8.30pm, the alarm was raised by a member of the crew when they received a call from Lambay…

Celia Mary’s widower Peter Ross and best friend Rea Hollis joined by local clergy and RNLI staff at the naming ceremony in Clifden yesterday

Clifden RNLI Name New Inshore Lifeboat ‘Celia Mary’

22nd October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI officially named its new D class lifeboat Celia Mary at a special ceremony and service of dedication held yesterday (Saturday 21 October) in the Connemara coastal town. The honour of handing over the lifeboat and officially…

Arklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Ger Tigchelaar tows the casualty boat back to port

Arklow Lifeboat Assists Stricken Sailing Vessel With Two Aboard

18th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arklow RNLI was launched yesterday evening (Tuesday 17 October) following a call for assistance from the crew of a sailing vessel reporting mechanical failure. The volunteer crew on board Arklow's all-weather lifeboat proceeded to the reported position approximately…

Larne & Bangor Lifeboats Answer Pager Call During Storm Ophelia

17th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Both Larne and Bangor RNLI were requested to launch last night (Monday 16 October) by Belfast Coastguard during Storm Ophelia. The volunteer lifeboat crew pagers sounded at 9.25pm following reports of a person in the water at Whitehead…

Conditions were extremely challenging with force nine winds with a six metre sea swell. Scroll down for video

Storm Ophelia VIDEO: Rosslare Harbour RNLI Rescues Three People After Yacht Mayday

16th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew with Rosslare RNLI launched this morning (Monday 16 October) during Storm Ophelia to rescue three men onboard a 10m yacht after they issued a Mayday. The crew had been trying to get to safety since the early…

Portaferry RNLI launching to reports of dory spinning out of control on Saturday morning

Portaferry RNLI Launches To Man Thrown From Motor Boat In Strangford Lough

15th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A volunteer crew from Portaferry RNLI were preparing for a training exercise yesterday morning (Saturday 14 October) when they received a call to go to the aid of a man who had been thrown from a small motor…

Skerries RNLI towing the RIB with engine issues to safety from Lambay Island

Two Midweek Callouts Within Hours For Skerries Lifeboat

13th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 12 October) for the second time in less than 24 hours. Shortly after 12pm, Dublin Coast Guard received information that a RIB with one person on board had suffered engine failure north…

Clifden RNLI’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats

Clifden Lifeboats Rescue Six After Boat Breaks Down Off Connemara Coast

11th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched shortly before 1pm on Sunday 8 October when a boat with six on board got into difficulty in the Killary Harbour area. The location of the craft was unclear in…

RNLI Seeks Lifesaving Manager For Ireland & Isle Of Man

9th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The RNLI is looking for “an experienced and dynamic leader” to run its 24-hour search and rescue on-call lifesaving service in Ireland and the Isle of Man. The lifesaving manager heads a team of area managers and dedicated…

Baltimore Lifeboat Assists Yacht In High Winds

4th October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Patricia Jennings was called on Sunday (1 October) to go to the assistance of a 28ft yacht with one person on board. The yacht had lost power near the West Cork harbour's west pier…

With a tow set up, the lifeboat proceeded to take the fishing vessel into Lough Swilly. However, with deteriorating weather conditions and with both the tide and wind against them, a decision was made to tow the boat into Greencastle.

Portrush RNLI in 15 hour Call Out to Rescue Six Fishermen From 15m Boat with Engine Failure (VIDEO)

2nd October 2017 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI has rescued six fishermen during what was a 15 hour call out for the volunteers in rough weather conditions after the fishing boat sustained engine failure off the Donegal coast. The lifeboat crew was requested by Belfast Coastguard…

Start
Prev
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
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