RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

The lifeboat crew return to Fethard Dock with the casualty vessel under tow

Fethard Lifeboat Launches to Lone Boatman Blown Out to Sea

24th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat on Friday afternoon (22 July) after one of its helms spotted a lone boatman struggling to make ground with oars while being blown away from the shore. The volunteer crew launched the inshore lifeboat…

File image of Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat launching for an early morning callout

Youghal Lifeboat Rescues Family From Yacht Drifting Towards Rocks

22nd July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew rescued a family of three from their stricken yacht this morning (Friday 22 July) as it drifted towards rocks near Black Head in Youghal Bay. The couple with their teenage son radioed for help after…

File image of Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat leaving the station

Medevac Marks Third Callout in Five Days for Baltimore Lifeboat

21st July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Less than 24 hours after their role in the dramatic rescue of French yachtsman Loic Escoffier, Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide a medical evacuation on Wednesday afternoon (20 July) from Cape Clear Island in West Cork in what…

Over nearly 150 years as a lifeboat station, the crews at Ballycotton RNLI have been presented with 19 awards for gallantry

Ballycotton RNLI Brings Yacht with Two Crew Onboard to Safety After Engine Failure off Roche’s Point

21st July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

A 36ft yacht with two people onboard that had suffered engine failure south of Roche’s Point yesterday (Wednesday, 20 July), was brought to safety by lifeboat crew from Ballycotton RNLI. Ballycotton RNLI was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard…

File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Two Rescued Across Three Callouts in Two Days for Portaferry Lifeboat

21st July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI launched for the third time in two days on Wednesday evening (20 July) to retrieve a kayak that had drifted off Slanes Bay on Northern Ireland’s Arts Peninsula. A member of the public raised the alarm shortly before…

Baltimore RNLI all-weather lifeboat rescue the solo sailor from his capsized catamaran

Baltimore RNLI and R117 Rescue Lone Sailor from Capsized Catamaran 70 Miles South of Baltimore, West Cork (Coastguard Heli Video Here!)

21st July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out to assist a lone sailor whose yacht had capsized 70 miles off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork, yesterday evening (Tuesday 19 July). The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 5.50 pm, following…

Youghal RNLI tows a small vessel with engine failure into Youghal Harbour

Youghal Lifeboat Assists Six Across Two Callouts in Less Than Two Hours

20th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Youghal RNLI in East Cork responded to two callouts in less that two hours on Tuesday (19 July), coming to the aid of six people. The volunteer lifeboat crew were first requested to launch at 4.37pm to aid a family…

Lough Ree RNLI heading out in calm waters on Monday morning 18 July

Lough Ree Lifeboat Assists 19 People Across Six Incidents in a Week as Season Reaches Its Peak

19th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Just after 8am on Monday morning (18 July), Lough Ree RNLI was requested to go to the aid of four people on board a stranded cruiser near Clawinch Island. It brought to 19 the total number of people assisted across…

Helvick Head RNLI Called Out to Assist two Children Adrift on Inflatable off Clonea Beach

19th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Helvick Head RNLI went to assist two children today (Tuesday 19 July) at Clonea Beach after they were swept out to sea on an inflatable. With Force 2-3 north westerly winds and calm seas, the volunteer crew launched their inshore…

Kilmore Quay RNLI all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney assisted a four metre RIB with three onboard

Kilmore Quay RNLI Called to Assist Three Young People Aboard a Drifting RIB with Engine Failure

19th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilmore Quay RNLI launched at 9 pm last night (Monday 18 July) to assist three young people on board a four-metre RIB that had suffered engine failure approximately one mile south of the Great Saltee Island. The volunteer crew were…

Galway RNLI Rescues Six People From Water After Group Gets Cut off by Tide at Rabbit Island

19th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Galway RNLI rescued six people who got into difficulty in the sea off Rabbit Island on Monday evening (18 July). The group who had walked over to the island at low tide became stranded by the incoming tide and were attempting…

Howth RNLI Launch Lifeboats to Three Incidents on Dublin’s Hottest Day on Record

18th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew of Howth RNLI launched both their inshore and all-weather lifeboats to three separate incidents today (Monday 18 July), the hottest day on record in Dublin. The inshore lifeboat was launched at 2.20pm to reports of a…

Picture shows, left to right: RNLI Dun Laoghaire's Hazel Rea, Moselle Hogan and Laura Jackson (Helm)

Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI Rescues Four Teenagers Swept out to Sea by the Outgoing Tide at Dollymount

18th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

An all-female lifeboat crew from Dun Laoghaire RNLI rescued four teenagers yesterday evening (Sunday 17 July) after they were overcome by the outgoing tide and found clinging to The Wooden Bridge at Dollymount. The volunteer crew were alerted shortly after…

The Red Bay lifeboat crew located the vessel, which was taking on water and took all nine people onboard the lifeboat

Nine Rescued by Red Bay RNLI after Vessel Hits Submerged Object Near Fair Head and Takes on Water

17th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Five adults and four children have been rescued by lifeboat crew from Red Bay RNLI after their vessel hit a submerged object this afternoon (Sunday, 17 July) and started taking on water, near Fair Head near Ballycastle. Lifeboat crew from…

Lifeboat volunteers with Courtmacsherry RNLI in West Cork

Three Launches in Five Days for Courtmacsherry Lifeboat

15th July 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

This past week has been a very busy period at Courtmacsherry RNLI in West Cork with three callouts in five days. The all-weather lifeboat was requested at 10.45pm on Tuesday night (12 July) to launch in search of a person…

The US Marines racing First 40.7 Escapado is in third place

Crosshaven RNLI Top Beaufort Cup Leaderboard

14th July 2022 Cork Week

Racing for the Beaufort Cup at Cork Week will conclude on Friday with the winning services team awarded the trophy and €10,000 for their chosen charity. After three days of light and complex racing, a sea breeze kicked in on…

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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