RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Union Hall Lifeboat Launches To Yacht Off Glandore Harbour

22nd June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI was tasked by Valentia Coast Guard at 6.14pm on Monday (20 June 2016) to reports of a yacht in difficulty with a broken tiller three-and-a-half miles south of Glandore Harbour. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched…

Portrush Lifeboat Launches To Swimmer In Difficulty

22nd June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Portrush RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched yesterday evening (Tuesday 21 June) to reports of a swimmer in difficulty at the Herring Pond in Portstewart. Three volunteer lifeboat crew launched the inshore lifeboat in cloudy conditions in a slight sea…

Mrs Rose Michael is presented with her RNLI Bar to Gold Badge by RNLI Chairman Charles Hunter-Pease

RNLI Honours Dublin North Volunteers at Irish Awards

21st June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI held its Annual Presentation of Awards at the Guinness Storehouse on Friday (17 June 2016) where the charity presented 56 individual awards to volunteers from across the country. Five of the awardees were from Dublin North. However the…

Lough Swilly RNLI's Shannon arrives on station

Naming Ceremony For Lough Swilly Shannon-Class Lifeboat This Weekend

20th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arklow man and former lifeboat operations manager Jimmy Tyrrell will have the honour of naming the first class of RNLI lifeboat to be named after an Irish river this Saturday 25 June in Buncrana, Co Donegal. Lough Swilly…

Wicklow's all-weather lifeboat towing the stricken yacht into Wicklow Harbour

Wicklow Lifeboat Assists Solo Sailor After Distress Call

20th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19 June) to a solo sailor in distress six miles off the Wicklow coast. A marine VHF radio distress signal was received by the Irish Coast Guard from the French…

Early Morning Callout For Arklow Lifeboat To Casualty In Water

19th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arklow RNLI was called out early this morning (Sunday 19 June) to go the assistance of a casualty in difficulty near Arklow Harbour. Within minutes of a pager alert at 6.23am, the lifeboat Ger Tigchlearr and her volunteer…

The 36–foot fishing vessel got into difficult just 300 metres off the rocks at Dunworley Point near Seven Heads in West Cork at 2pm today and sought immediate assistance.

Fishing Vessel Pulled From Rocky Shore By Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat

18th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was called out at 2pm today Sat to go to the aid of a 36 foot Fishing Vessel that had got into difficulty just 300 meters off the rocks at Dunworley Point in West…

The four young rowers have had to set aside their record attempt after setting off from Tower in London 10 days ago to row around the UK coast. See video below.

Rosslare Harbour RNLI Launch to Four Rowers in Difficulty off Wexford Coast During Record-Breaking Attempt

17th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour RNLI launched last night to four young men attempting a record-breaking row off the UK coast after they requested assistance in worsening weather conditions. They were brought to safety by Rosslare Harbour RNLI in a call out that…

Pictured at the launch of Text Coney are from left Frank Carter, Sligo Bay RNLI Coastal Safety Adviser, Rogan Wheeldon, RNLI Community Incident Reduction Manager, Michael and John McGowan, residents of Coney Island, Joe Henderson, Sligo Bay RNLI Coastal Safety Officer, Willie Murphy, Sligo Bay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager and to the front, Johnny Keaney Sligo Bay RNLI volunteer.

RNLI Launches Text Messaging Service to Prevent Dangerous Tidal Cut–Off at Coney Island in County Sligo

17th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI has today launched an innovative free text message service aimed at preventing people getting caught out by dangerous tides when travelling to Coney Island in County Sligo. In what is the first of its kind in Ireland, the…

The lifeboat launched from Fethard dock in good weather with a northerly wind gusting 3/4 knots

Fouled Lobster Boat Propellor Prompts Fethard Lifeboat Callout

17th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI launched this morning to a 21-foot fishing vessel with a fouled propeller one mile from Baginbun Head. There was one fisherman on board the boat. While the lobster pots were being recovered onto the vessel a rope became…

RNLI Red Bay – Prior to its arrival in Cushendall, the all weather lifeboat was moored at Glenarm Marina for a short period

Red Bay RNLI Get All-Weather Lifeboat for Two Year Trial

17th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

An all-weather lifeboat has officially been put on service and become a declared search and rescue asset for a two year trial period at Red Bay RNLI in County Antrim. The Trent class lifeboat Henry Heys Duckworth has come from…

Bangor Lifeboat Rescues Four On Drifting Motorboat In Belfast Lough

15th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Bangor RNLI assisted four people who got into difficulty on a broken-down motorboat on Belfast Lough on Monday evening (13 June). The volunteer lifeboat crew launched at 10.25pm to rescue the 19ft motorboat just off the Cloghan Jetty.…

Carrybridge RNLI speeding to one of their three callouts on Upper Lough Erne this past Saturday

Busy Saturday As Carrybridge Lifeboat Launches To Three Incidents

13th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Carrybridge RNLI attended three different incidents – one involving a fire – on Upper Lough Erne this past Saturday (11 June). The inshore lifeboat and rescue wafer craft were initially tasked to a burning vessel at 6.08pm, two…

Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat taking the cruiser under tow

Wicklow Lifeboat Assists Five On Motor Cruiser

13th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched to give assistance to an English motor cruiser at 12.20pm yesterday (Sunday 12 June). The cruiser, with five people on board, was on passage from Dun Laoghaire to Pembroke when it developed mechanical…

The inshore lifeboat brought the vessel to Crosshaven

RNLI Crosshaven Take Yacht off Beach in Cork Harbour

13th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat launched at 10.53pm last night to a small yacht aground at White Bay on the East side of Cork Harbour. At the scene, the crew found one person in the water attempting to hold the yacht off…

Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Three Lost In Thick Fog

11th June 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Volunteers with Portaferry RNLI went to the aid of three men on board a 4m dory who had become lost in thick fog close to Ballyhornan on the Co Down coast on Thursday (9 June). At the time…

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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