RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat crew who assisted the speedboat off the West Cork coast

West Cork Speedboat Caught on a Rope is Towed Home By Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat

29th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere lifeboat was dispatched to help a man whose speedboat was having difficulty off the West Cork coast this afternoon. The Irish Coast Guard's Marine Research Coordination Centre in Valentia received reports that a 17' speedboat with one person aboard…

Baltimore RNLI inshore lifeboat prepares to launch in West Cork

Baltimore RNLI Assists Broken Down 12m Yacht Near West Cork Harbour

28th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI responded to a distress call on Thursday, 27 July, to assist a 12m sailing yacht with engine failure near Baltimore Harbour, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 7 pm after the Coast Guard requested…

Newcastle RNLI’s lifeboat crew launched both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats to go to the assistance of the yacht crew drifting five miles east of Ardglass

Newcastle RNLI Launches to Drifting Yacht with Five People Onboard

27th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Newcastle RNLI’s lifeboat crew launched both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats yesterday (Wednesday, 26 July) at 3.08 pm following a request from HM Coastguard. A 36ft yacht with five people onboard, including two children, had reported that their equipment had…

Two Yachts in Difficulty: Aran Islands RNLI Rescue Eight People in Separate Incidents over Weekend

24th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI has come to the aid of eight people in two separate incidents over the weekend after two yachts got into difficulty. The volunteer crew spent six hours at sea on Saturday night into the early hours of…

If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast or think that they are in trouble, use Marine VHF Ch 16 or dial 112 and ask for the Coast Guard

Water Safety Ireland, Coast Guard and RNLI Issue Joint Call to Action for World Drowning Prevention Day – July 25

24th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

To mark World Drowning Prevention Day, July 25, Water Safety Ireland, the Coast Guard and the RNLI are calling on people to “Do One Thing or Improve One Thing” to help prevent drownings. Participation in a wide variety of year-round…

Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat launched to a workboat taking on water

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat Launch to Workboat Taking on Water off West Cork Coast

24th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI were launched last night just before midnight to assist a vessel taking water north of Dursey Island off the Beara peninsula in West Cork. Castletownbere lifeboat volunteer crew were requested to launch by Valentia Coastguard Marine Coordination Centre…

Swanage RNLI lifeboat assists a yacht competing in the 2023 Fastnet Race. See video below

Fastnet Race's 'String of Incidents' for RNLI Lifeboats (Video)

24th July 2023 Fastnet

Four lifeboats from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) were called out to a string of incidents in terrible conditions at the weekend as the 50th Fastnet Race got underway in boat-breaking conditions. The famous 695-mile yacht race started at…

The Galway lifeboat (above) reached the motorboat at around 9 pm and escorted the boat - which was under her own power - and the five people on board back to Galway Harbour

Galway RNLI Launch to Motorboat in Difficulty off the Clare Coast

22nd July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Galway RNLI's volunteer crew were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to assist a 30-foot motorboat, with five people on board, in difficulty off Blackhead in County Clare late on Friday evening. The lifeboat launched at around 8.30 pm with…

Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launching to the stricken Warrior 175 on Thursday morning 20 July

Youghal Lifeboat Assists Sailor in Difficulty on 17ft Pleasure Boat

21st July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI came to aid of a sailor onboard a broken-down 17ft pleasure boat that suffered engine failure some two-and-a-half miles south east of Youghal Lighthouse in East Cork. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their Atlantic 85 inshore…

File image of Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Baltimore Lifeboat Called to Medical Emergency on Heir Island

21st July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out to a medical emergency on Thursday evening (20 July) to Heir Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 5.06pm following a request from the Irish Coast…

File image of Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Aran Islands Lifeboat in Medevac After Biking Accident

20th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI carried out a medical evacuation on Wednesday afternoon (19 July) after a visitor had a biking accident. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 3.31pm and proceed to the pontoon at Kilronan on…

Courtmacsherry RNLI’s new all-weather lifeboat arriving back into its home port this afternoon with the yacht safely alongside

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat in Marathon Mission to Tow Disabled Yacht to Safety

18th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry RNLI were called out just before midnight on Monday (17 July) by Valentia Coast Guard to go to the immediate aid of a 29ft yacht which had suffered mast, power and mechanical difficulties some 69 miles south of Courtmacsherry…

File image of Courtown RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Courtown Lifeboat Rescues Three After RIB Breaks Down

17th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtown RNLI in Co Wexford rescued three men on Sunday afternoon (16 July) after their RIB encountered engine problems and was drifting out to sea. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 5.32pm by the Irish…

Wexford RNLI’s inshore lifeboat approaching the scene on Saturday night 15 July

Wexford Lifeboat Rescues Two People After Vessel Spotted Adrift

17th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Wexford RNLI rescued two people on Saturday night (15 July) after their boat was seen drifting. The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 11.53pm and were quickly on scene to assess the situation. With a fallen tide and the…

Youghal RNLI Aids 32ft Yacht in Difficulty Off Capel Island

17th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI in East Cork was requested yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 16 July) at 4.18 pm following a report of a sailor in difficulty half a mile from Capel Island after their boat had broken down due to a gearbox malfunction.…

Lifeboat operations manager Beni McAllister with the inshore lifeboat crew and lifeguards on Portrush’s East Strand on Wednesday 12 July

Portrush Lifeboat Volunteers Hold Joint Exercise With RNLI Lifeguards

16th July 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

On Wednesday (12 July) Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat crew carried out a joint simulation exercise with RNLI lifeguards on the East Strand in Portrush, on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast. The exercise was a simulation of a sea swimmer who had…

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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