RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Fethard RNLI Launch Lifeboat to Kite Surfer off Duncannon Beach

24th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew with Fethard RNLI in Wexford launched yesterday afternoon to assist a kite surfer who had got into difficulty off Duncannon beach in Wexford. The alarm was raised shortly after 2pm when the man could not safely return to…

New RNLI Lifeboat for Crosshaven In Cork Harbour

20th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI have announced the replacement of the Crosshaven Atlantic 75 class lifeboat “Miss Betty” with the newer and improved Atlantic 85 Class of lifeboat. The new lifeboat is 8.5 metres long with extra load carrying space for stretchers and the…

RNLI Beach Lifeguard Seek Recruits for Antrim & Down Coasts

14th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Northern Ireland may be in the depth of winter but the RNLI has already begun its search for new lifeguards to patrol its 10 beaches this summer. The RNLI today launched its 'Best Summer Job' campaign by opening beach lifeguard…

Skerries RNLI volunteers with Mollie the dog

Skerries Lifeboat Crew Rescue Dog Stranded On Rocks

13th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Following the dramatic rescue of a dog who fell from sea cliffs on Howth Head at the weekend comes news from Skerries of another pooch stranded off the shore by high tide yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 12 January). Mollie,…

.@PortrushRNLI receives first call out of 2016 after kayakers get into difficulty: https://t.co/pu7bB615iC pic.twitter.com/7izJiK8PeD
— RNLI (@RNLI) January 11, 2016

Portrush Lifeboat's First 2016 Callouts In Quick Succession

11th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Portrush RNLI had their first two callouts of 2016 in quick succession yesterday today (Sunday 10 January). The all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was first launched around 2.30pm following reports of kayakers in difficulty at Kinnego Bay in Donegal. The…

Clifton RNLI attending the stranded van on Omey Island

Clifden Lifeboat Rescues Dog Walker After Van Stranded By Tide

10th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI's inshore lifeboat Granuaile launched yesterday afternoon (Saturday 9 January) to assist a walker and her six dogs who had been stranded on Omey Island on the Connemara coast by the rapidly incoming tide. The popular walking…

Dunmore East Lifeboat Rescues Five On Trawler With Engine Failure

10th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI launched on Friday (8 January) to assist a 50ft fishing vessel with five people on board. The vessel suffered engine failure eight miles from Dunmore East Harbour. Just before 5pm the volunteer lifeboat crew at…

Kilmore Quay RNLI assisting the 13m steel trawler

Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Helps Fishermen To Safety After Mayday Call

8th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Kilmore Quay RNLI assisted four fishermen to safety in the early hours of this morning (Friday 8 January) after they feared their vessel was in danger from taking on water. The volunteer crew was requested to launch their…

Castletownbere RNLI Recovers British Adventurer’s Transatlantic Vessel Abandoned in Hurricane

6th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI has recovered a British adventurer’s transatlantic boat which was abandoned in a hurricane some 400 miles west of Portugal. In what was their first call out of 2016, the volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to go the assistance…

Lough Ree Lifeboat Assists Man Marooned On Shannon Barge

5th January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI received their first callout of 2016 on Sunday 3 January when a man living aboard a barge was marooned by a strong river current on the River Shannon in Athlone. The barge is moored below…

Swimmer In Difficulty Sparks First 2016 Callout For Skerries Lifeboat

3rd January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI responded to their first callout of 2016 yesterday morning (Saturday 2 January) as they launched to reports of swimmer in difficulty off Rush. Pagers sounded shortly before 10am after Dublin Coast Guard received reports that a…

Lough Derg RNLI Wades In To Rescue Horse

2nd January 2016 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to rescue a horse reported to have fallen into the Nenagh River and carried downstream into the Lough Derg. At 12.35pm today, January 1, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard following a…

Kilrush RNLI Launch in Gales to Assist 43ft Motor Vessel

22nd December 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilrush RNLI Lifeboat crew on the Shannon Estuary launched early this morning in gale force conditions to assist 43ft motor vessel that had fouled its propeller south of Moneypoint. At 4.59am Shannon Coast Guard tasked Kilrush RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew…

Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat Called out to Fishing Boat

18th December 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat under Coxswain Sean O'Farrell was called out at 11am this morning to go to the aid of a 46 ft fishing vessel that had got into difficulties 14 miles south of The Old Head…

Two Generations of Lifeboat Volunteers to Lead Christmas Eve RNLI Ceremony

18th December 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

Two volunteers representing continuing generations of lifeboat service with the RNLI will lead the annual Christmas Eve ceremony on Dun Laoghaire’s East Pier next week. Former crew-member and now Deputy Launching Authority Eddie Totterdell and his son Conor who recently…

Baltimore Lifeboat Tasked With Medevac From Cape Clear Island

9th December 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI received an an alert from Valentia Coastguard at 09:29 this morning when a young boy in urgent need of medical attention required immediate evacuation from Cape Clear Island. Coxswain Aidan Bushe along with 5 volunteer crewmen were launched…

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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