RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Castletownbere RNLI was represented at the awards by Lifeboat Operations Manager Tony O’Sullivan, Coxswain Brian O’Driscoll and crew members John Paul Downey and Kyle Cronin.

Castletownbere RNLI Presented with National Marine Gallantry and Meritorious Service Award

18th October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew from Castletownbere RNLI has been awarded a Marine Ministerial Letter of Appreciation for Meritorious Service. The award in recognition of the crew’s ability to locate and save a life in challenging weather conditions was presented by…

Claire Sugden, The Justice Minister, meets Portush Lifeboat volunteers

UK Justice Minister Visits Portrush RNLI Volunteers

17th October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Claire Sugden, The Justice Minister called in on her local RNLI Lifeboat station at Portrush the weekend to pay tribute to the work they do on the North Coast. The Minister was keen to meet all the volunteers including crew,…

Youghal Lifeboat Launches To Man Taken Ill On Angling Boat

16th October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Youghal RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked yesterday morning (Saturday 15 October) in choppy waters to reports of a man taken ill on board a chartered angling vessel. At 11.30am the lifeboat launched to the location around a…

Helen McFarland with her husband, Lough Swilly lifeboat crewman Francy Burns

Lough Swilly RNLI Groom’s Wedding Speech Interrupted By Lifeboat Launch

12th October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Buncrana man Francy Burns wed his sweetheart, Carndonagh woman Helen McFarland, last Saturday 8 October in a wedding attended by their family, friends and the volunteers with Lough Swilly RNLI. But it wasn’t all plain sailing, as after…

Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat crew take the Sloop in tow

Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Rescues 40–foot Sailing Sloop off Kinsale

11th October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was called out at 12.30pm this afternoon to go to the aid of a 40–foot Sailing Sloop 'in trouble' eight miles off the Old Head of Kinsale in West Cork. Coxswain Sean O'Farrell and…

Hollywood comes to Howth Yacht Club (L-R) Maura Farrell, Anne-Marie O'Daly, Brendan Gleeson, Gerardine MacLoughlin and Maeve Derham

Hollywood Star Brendan Gleeson Attends RNLI Ladies Lunch in aid of Howth RNLI

11th October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

North Dublin actor Brendan Gleeson was at Howth Yacht Club last Thursday (6 Oct 2016) for the annual RNLI Ladies Lunch in aid of Howth RNLI. The sold-out charity event was attended by 150 local ladies and raised over €8,000.…

The lifeboat located the vessel at the junction of Scariff Bay on Lough Derg

Low Water Levels on Lough Derg Lead to Cruiser Grounding & RNLI Call–Out

4th October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist four people after their 34ft–cruiser ran aground by the Scilly Islands on Lough Derg today. At 1.39pm, the lifeboat launched with helm Ger Egan, Lian Knight and Delia Ho on board. Winds was east-southeasterly,…

The crew of Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Assists Divers & Sailor In Two Callouts Off Kinsale

3rd October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out at 2.45pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 2 October) as three divers and their support boat sought help as their vessel got into difficulties near Black Head off Kinsale. The lifeboat was quickly…

Seymour Cresswell names the new lifeboat at a ceremony in Howth yesterday

Howth RNLI Name New Lifeboat in Memory of Local Woman with Affinity for the Sea

3rd October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew, station management, fundraisers and supporters of Howth RNLI were joined by members of the public yesterday (Sunday 2 October) to officially name the North Dublin lifeboat station’s newest lifeboat Aideen Cresswell, in memory of the incredible woman who…

Crosshaven RNLI ILB assisted a casualty from a RIB last night at Cork City marina

RIB Hits Cork Harbour Navigation Buoy, Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Assists Casualty At City Marina

2nd October 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat in Cork Harbour was requested to launch yesterday evening at 8.49pm after a report of a 9m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with two people on board hit a navigation Buoy near Tivoli in Cork City. Reports also…

Celebrity chef Clodagh McKenna serves up a fish supper for hungry Howth RNLI volunteers

Chef Clodagh McKenna Serves Fish Supper Treat For Howth Lifeboat Crew

30th September 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Celebrated chef, food writer and television personality Clodagh McKenna recently visited Howth Lifeboat Station, where she treated the volunteer crew to a delicious seafood supper. McKenna’s visit marks the countdown to the RNLI’s upcoming foodie fundraiser Fish Supper,…

Fethard Lifeboat Assists Man After Pleasure Craft Breakdown

30th September 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 29 September) to assist a man whose pleasure craft broke down off the Wexford coast. The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 4.07pm following a report that…

Ballycotton's inshore lifeboat shepherds the young dolphin into deeper waters

Ballycotton Lifeboat Launches To Stranded Dolphin

30th September 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI launched around 1pm yesterday afternoon (Thursday 29 September) to aid a dolphin stranded in shallow water on Silver Strand beach near the East Cork village. A member of the public who was on scene had tried…

The initial alarm was raised by a member of the public reporting two kayakers in trouble with one kayaker in the water

Larne RNLI Rescue Two Kayakers

28th September 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI has rescued two kayakers who got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast yesterday evening (Tuesday 27 September). The volunteer lifeboat crew responded to a launch request from Belfast Coastguard at approximately 6.30pm following reports of two kayakers…

Clifden Lifeboat Assists In Medevac From Inishturk

27th September 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - An island medical evacuation was carried out yesterday (Monday 26 September) by the volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI on the Mersey class all-weather lifeboat Fisherman's Friend. In calm seagoing conditions, the lifeboat was launched at 1.15pm to attend…

A photo taken from the Navy vessel LE Niamh of the trawler rescue by Courtmacsherry lifeboat 20 –miles off Seven Heads last night

Stricken Trawler Rescued By Courtmacsherry RNLI

27th September 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat has arrived in Union Hall with the stricken 60–ft fishing boat that had got into difficulties some seven hours earlier. The crew reported via a Mayday call at 5.46 pm last evening that 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