RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Aran island lifeboat coxswain Aonghus Ó hIarnáin and the O'Connell family - Daniel, Lena, Lena's mother Margaret Gill, and Jack and Olive (their younger brother Eoghan had left for a match)

RNLI Bicentenary Marked by Special Edition of Seascapes on RTÉ Radio 1

15th March 2024 Seascapes

An Aran island family with several generations of volunteering with the RNLI lifeboat are featured in the first episode of a special series of RTÉ Radio 1’s Seascapes to mark the RNLI’s bicentenary. The three-part series also carries an interview…

Kilmore Quay’s Tamar class lifeboat Victor Freeman alongside the stricken Irish trawler on Friday 8 March

Major Rescue in Irish Sea as Lifeboats Respond to Fishing Vessel Mayday

9th March 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI lifeboats from Ireland and the UK launched to a Mayday distress call from a fishing vessel taking on water on Friday (8 March). The 24-metre Irish trawler had five crew onboard and was some 21 nautical miles northwest of…

Baltimore RNLI Rescue Team Evacuates a Medical Emergency from Cape Clear Island

7th March 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Late on Wednesday night, Baltimore RNLI received a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide a medical evacuation for a man living on Cape Clear Island, located off the coast of West Cork. The Baltimore all-weather lifeboat crew, consisting…

At Dublin Port (L-R), Tom McGuire, RNLI lifeboat press officer, and Liam Sheringham, Lough Ree RNLI helm with example of the commemorative stamps issued by An Post that depict an Atlantic 85 lifeboat, similar to the “Tara Scougall” based at his station

RNLI Marks Bicentenary in Dublin on the Liffey and in London's Westminster Abbey

4th March 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Dublin’s Tom Clarke bridge was lifted for an RNLI lifeboat on Monday morning – but it wasn’t in response to a tasking. The Dun Laoghaire Harbour lifeboat steamed up the Liffey and berthed on North Wall Quay to mark the…

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution 200th anniversary commemorative stamps from An Post

Lifeboat Charity Celebrates 200 Years Saving Lives at Sea with Launch of An Post Stamps

4th March 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) will mark its 200th anniversary of saving lives at sea by launching two commemorative stamps in collaboration with An Post today. To celebrate the launch of these stamps, some of the charity's volunteer lifeboat…

David Murray is the new full-time Station Mechanic at Dunmore East RNLI

Dunmore East RNLI Appoints New Station Mechanic

1st March 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Dunmore East RNLI in County Waterford has announced the appointment of David Murray as its new full-time Station Mechanic. David, who has been a volunteer with the lifeboat station since 2013, has made significant contributions to the team and the…

Portrush RNLI crew with the Causeway Shantymen

Portrush RNLI Welcomes Causeway Shantymen as RNLI Water Safety Ambassadors

29th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush Lifeboat Station has welcomed “aboard” the Causeway Shantymen as the latest RNLI Ambassadors. The Causeway Shantymen have become ambassadors for the RNLI during its 200th year. They have drawn great inspiration from a collaboration with Portrush RNLI and hope…

Tributes Paid Following Death of Royal Cork Sailor Clayton Love Jr

29th February 2024 Royal Cork YC

We regret to record the death of Clayton Love Jr, a founder of the Irish Yachting Association, now Irish Sailing. Born in 1929, Clayton held the office of President of the IYA for a decade between 1962 and 1972, establishing…

Wicklow RNLI assisted a fishing vessel with a rope fouled propeller -the lifeboat crew after are pictured returning from the call out, and a photo of RNLB Bridie O’Shea returning to station

Wicklow RNLI Rescues Three Fishermen After Mechanical Failure at Sea

24th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Three fishermen were rescued by the Wicklow RNLI on Thursday afternoon, February 22. The fishermen were brought to safety after their vessel developed mechanical problems three miles southeast of Wicklow Head. The lifeboat, RNLB Bridie O’Shea, was dispatched from the…

A file photo of Baltimore RNLI on a night time medevac

Baltimore RNLI Evacuates Woman from Cape Clear Island in Choppy Seas

22nd February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

A woman living on Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork was evacuated by the Baltimore RNLI on Wednesday night. The Irish Coast Guard had requested the medical evacuation, and the volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat…

File image of Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Wicklow Lifeboat Launches to Assist Three More Fishermen on Boat With Engine Failure

18th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Three days after the rescue of three fishermen last Saturday afternoon, Wicklow RNLI launched lunchtime on Tuesday (13 February) to assist three more fishermen after their vessel experienced mechanical problems. Under the command of coxswain Ciaran Doyle, the all-weather lifeboat…

RNLI Lifeboats Howth and the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit receiving the fantastic funds raised by the All in a Row Liffey Challenge 2023 at Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club

All In A Row Liffey Challenge Raises €20,000 for RNLI Lifeboats and the Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Unit

18th February 2024 River Liffey

Dubliners came together early last December for the All In A Row Liffey Challenge, with the aim of raising funds for RNLI Lifeboats and the Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Unit. The challenge for the rowers and paddlers was to…

Union Hall RNLI lifeboat crew (from left to right) Charlie Deasy, Cathal Deasy and Michael Limrick (Helm) picture after the rescue of a paddleboarder

Union Hall RNLI Rescue Paddle Boarder in Difficulty at The Warren Beach

16th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

On Thursday, the 15th of February, Union Hall RNLI in West Cork responded to a report of a swimmer in trouble at The Warren Beach, Rosscarbery, in West Cork. The call was made to Valentia Coast Guard at 2.44 pm.…

File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Bundoran Lifeboat in Rescue of Two Trapped on Rocks at Mermaid’s Cove

14th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI came to the aid of two people who got trapped at the bottom of a cliff in county Sligo on Wednesday afternoon (14 February). The inshore lifeboat was requested to launch at 2.41pm following a report from the…

File image of Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Assists Five on Fishing Vessel With Snagged Propeller

13th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested by the Irish Coast Guard on Sunday evening (11 February) to assist five crew on board a stricken fishing vessel. The all-weather lifeboat was launched shortly after the shout at 5.26pm and quickly…

The RNLI relief fleet all-weather Shannon lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea departs Wicklow Harbour to rescue a fishing vessel with mechanical problems

Wicklow RNLI Rescues Three Fishermen After Fishing Vessel Develops Mechanical Problems

12th February 2024 RNLI Lifeboats

Three fishermen were rescued by the Wicklow RNLI on Saturday afternoon (10th February) after their 12-metre vessel developed mechanical problems off the Wicklow coast. The Coast Guard requested the RNLI relief fleet all-weather Shannon lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea at 12.50pm,…

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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