RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

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…

Kilkeel RNLI praised for professionalism

Kilkeel Lifeboat Crew Praised For Professionalism

4th December 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Kilkeel RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew have been recognised for their professionalism by a nearby business. Mark Forkin of NuTech Renewables in Warrenpoint visited Kilkeel Lifeboat Station on Tuesday (1 December) to present a boat maintenance hamper to the…

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Responds To Fishing Vessel In Difficulty

27th November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Volunteers with Rosslare Harbour RNLI went to the assistance of a 10-metre fishing vessel with two people on board which had run into difficulty 13 miles north of Rosslare Harbour yesterday morning (26 November). The crew of the…

Second Island Evacuation In Fortnight For Clifden RNLI

27th November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Pride and Spirit was launched shortly after 4pm on Tuesday (24 November) to undertake an urgent medical evacuation from the island of Inishturk North. This was the second such callout in a fortnight, after…

The Big Christmas Rescue reading in Donaghadee

Donaghadee Children Get Into The Festive Spirit With Special RNLI Book Reading

25th November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Christmas came early at Donaghadee Primary School yesterday (Tuesday 24 November) as children enjoyed a reading of an RNLI festive story. Accompanied by Rookie the RNLI Reindeer and coxswain Philip McNamara, Donaghadee RNLI’s deputy second coxswain John Ashwood…

Wicklow, Arranmore Lifeboats Respond In Separate Tow-In Callouts

23rd November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched at 5.31pm yesterday evening (Sunday 22 November) to assist a yacht with two people on board at Wicklow Harbour. The skipper of the 10-metre yacht contacted the coastguard for assistance after briefly running…

Christmas Shop To Raise Funds For Skerries RNLI

18th November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI's Christmas shop opened for business this past Sunday 15 November and will be open again every Sunday until Christmas from 11am to 1pm. The North Co Dublin lifeboat station will also once again be holding a…

New Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Arrives at Sligo Bay RNLI

17th November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

A new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat has gone on service at Sligo Bay RNLI. The lifeboat which arrived at the Rosses Point lifeboat station yesterday evening (Monday 16 November), replaces Elsinore, which has been used to save lives at sea…

.@ClifdenRNLI battle 'the most severe weather' the crew had ever faced in island evacuation: https://t.co/rSRTugJEr1 pic.twitter.com/ac1t4ltmni
— RNLI (@RNLI) November 16, 2015

Early Morning Island Medevac by Clifden Lifeboat

16th November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The crew of Clifden RNLI had an early start in dark and dangerous conditions yesterday morning (Sunday 15 November) when an emergency medical evacuation was required from Inishbofin. After a 5.43am pager alert, the volunteer lifeboat crew consisting…

Baltimore Lifeboat Assists Fishing Vessel Aground at Glandore Harbour

16th November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI Tamar class Lifeboat Alan Massey launched last night to go to the assistance of a fishing vessel which ran aground in Glandore Harbour. The Lifeboat was tasked at 2125 and arrived in Glandore Harbour where the Union Hall…

Portaferry RNLI rescues kayakers on Strangford Lough

Portaferry's Inshore Lifeboat Rescues Kayakers In Challenging Conditions On Strangford Lough

13th November 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The Volunteer lifeboat crew at Portaferry RNLI launched yesterday (Thursday 12 November) to the aid of three men in kayaks on Strangford Lough. Portaferry's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat launched at 12.38pm having received a launch request from the…

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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