RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Union Hall Lifeboat Rescues Five From French Yacht

28th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI rescued five men after their yacht was in danger of hitting rocks off the coast of West Cork on Friday evening (26 June). The volunteer lifeboat crew was alerted shortly after 5pm following a report…

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Assists Six In Early Morning Callout

26th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI assisted six people in the early hours of this morning (Friday 26 June) after their yacht got into difficulty off the Wexford coast. Volunteers were alerted shortly before 2.30am following a report from the Irish…

Wicklow Lifeboats Launch To Report Of Floating Object

21st June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats launched yesterday afternoon (Saturday 20 June) at 3.10pm to investigate a report of an object floating in the sea off the beach at Brittas Bay. A vigilant lifeguard on duty at Brittas Bay contacted…

Lough Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Three Fishermen Missing off Donegal Coast

19th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – In the early hours of this morning Lough Swilly RNLI rescued three fishermen who had been reported missing after they failed to return home. It was the first rescue for Lough Swilly RNLI's new Shannon class lifeboat and…

Falmouth Solo Racing Yachtswoman Rescued By Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat

18th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat under Coxswain Sean O Farrell was called out at 7.10 pm yesterday evening to answer a distress call from a yacht that was reported in difficulties off the West Cork Coast, as…

Wexford Lifeboats Assist Two After Yacht Breakdown

16th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Volunteer lifeboat crew from Wexford and Rosslare Harbour RNLI launched on Sunday (14 June) to go to the assistance of two people onboard a 37ft yacht which got into difficulty off Wexford’s east coast. Wexford RNLI launched their…

Crosshaven Lifeboat Rescues Teens From Homemade Raft

16th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Six teenagers have been rescued by Crosshaven RNLI this morning (Tuesday 16 June) after a member of the public spotted them in the water and raised the alarm. The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their inshore…

Yacht Aground on Lough Derg, Lifeboat Wades to the Rescue

16th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist 4 people on board a 24ft yacht, aground in Sandy Bottom in Dromineer Bay last night. At 8.03pm, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist four people on…

Arklow Lifeboat Aids Local Fishing Vessel In Second Callout Of The Week

15th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arklow RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were alerted by pager at 6.44pm yesterday evening (14 June) to a call for help from a local fishing vessel in the station's second callout of the week, following the lifeboat's midweek rescue…

Three in a Row for Union Hall RNLI As They Bring Yacht to Safety

14th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Union Hall RNLI had their third callout in a week when launched on Saturday afternoon (13 June 2015) to bring a 44–ft yacht with two crew onboard to safety after it reported engine problems off…

Dunmore East RNLI Hosts Blessing Of The Boats & Open Day Next Weekend

13th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI is holding a 'blessing of the boats' ceremony and lifeboat open day in Dunmore East harbour next Sunday 21 June at 2pm. The Dunmore East RNLI all-weather lifeboat will position in the harbour for the ceremony,…

Arklow Lifeboat In Midweek Callout To Sailboat In Difficulty

13th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Arklow RNLI came to the assistance of a sailing vessel with sail damage and mechanical failure on Wednesday evening (10 June). Following a planned exercise, Arklow lifeboat Ger Tigchlearr and its volunteer crew of Eamonn Kavanagh, John Berminghham, Michael Fitzgerald, Jimmy…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Assists Five Onboard Grounded Cruiser

11th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – At 1.20pm, Thursday afternoon, June 11, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist five people on board a 49ft (15m) yacht reported aground by Castletown Harbour on the County Clare shore. The lifeboat…

Union Hall RNLI Have Two Call Outs in 24 Hours

9th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Union Hall RNLI had their second callout in 24 hours this morning when a member of the public became concerned for the safety of a paddle boarder who had disappeared from view. The lifeboat was…

Union Hall Lifeboat Rescues Two After Pleasure Boat Gets Into Difficulty

8th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI rescued two men this afternoon (Monday 8 June) after their 18-foot pleasure boat got into difficulty off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer crew was alerted shortly after 1.30pm by the Irish Coast Guard…

Bangor RNLI Celebrates 50 Years Of Lifesaving

7th June 2015 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - On Friday 5 June, Bangor RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew, fundraisers and supporters gathered at the Marine Court Hotel to celebrate 50 years of saving lives at sea. Records held in the archives of Bangor lifeboat station indicate that…

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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