RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Located in Donegal Bay, Bundoran Lifeboat Station has provided search and rescue cover since 1994

Bundoran RNLI Brings Surfer in Difficulty at Rossnowlagh Beach to Safety

9th May 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

A surfer who got into difficulty at Rossnowlagh Beach yesterday afternoon (Sunday 8 May) was brought to safety by the volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI. The alarm was raised by a passer-by on the beach shortly after 3 pm. The…

Courtmacsherry’s lifeboat crew on the late-night callout

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Joins Major Search Off the Old Head of Kinsale

6th May 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn was called out at 10.15pm on Wednesday night (4 May) to join a search off Garrettstown and Garrylucas beaches near the Old Head of Kinsale in West Cork. Members of the public noticed…

File image of Aran Islands RNLI's all-weather lifeboat

Aran Islands Lifeboat Launches for Medevac From Inis Meáin

4th May 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Aran Islands RNLI on Inis Mór were requested on Tuesday evening (3 May) to launch their all-weather Severn class lifeboat to go to the aid of a patient on the neighbouring island of Inis Meáin. Under…

The organising committee of the Portrush Raft Race have announced that this year’s event will be held on 3rd and 4th September and not in May as it usually was prior to the Coronavirus pandemic

Portrush Raft Race Returns in September to the North Coast

3rd May 2022 Northern Ireland Waters

The fundraising Portrush Raft Race is something of an institution in the north coast town of the same name, which is blessed with two stunning beaches and tidily in between, a picturesque harbour where the RNLI Severn Class lifeboat the…

Located on Ireland’s rugged Wild Atlantic Way, Achill Island’s Trent class all-weather lifeboat is ready to help the offshore island communities

Achill Island RNLI assist with Bank Holiday Medical Evacuation on Inisturk Island

3rd May 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI responded to a request for assistance with the medical evacuation of a patient on Inisturk, a small island off the coast of County Galway, on Bank Holiday Monday. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched shortly before 5 pm yesterday…

Fethard Lifeboat Station operates a D-class lifeboat, which is launched from multiple sites on the Hook peninsula. The station reopened in 1996 after being closed for 80 years

Fethard RNLI Aid Four People on Yacht Aground off Wexford coast

3rd May 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI were requested to launch their lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard on Sunday afternoon (1 May) at 3pm, to the aid of four people on board a yacht south of Duncannon Fort in the…

Lough Derg RNLI Assist Lone Yacht Skipper Aground at Ryan’s Point

2nd May 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist a lone skipper on a 25ft yacht aground at Ryan’s Point on the eastern shore of Lough Derg on Sunday at 4.47 pm. The wind was westerly, Force 2/3.…

Clifden Lifeboat Joins Multi-Agency Response to Casualty Injured in Fall From Quayside

27th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew joined in a multi-agency response to an incident at Clifden Quay yesterday (Tuesday 26 April) where a casualty was injured in a fall from the quayside onto a boat some 15-20ft below. Mechanic Joe Acton…

Mickey Gerbola of Circus Gerbola with Howth Lifeboat Coxswain Fred Connolly (left) and Second Coxswain Ian Sheridan on a visit to Howth Lifeboat Station to promote a special gala performance at the Circus this Friday to fundraise for the RNLI

Howth RNLI’s Volunteer Lifeboat Crew Join the Circus for Mayday Fundraiser

27th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The lifeboat crew at Howth RNLI are joining the circus for one night only to kick start their Mayday campaign to raise funds for the RNLI. Circus Gerbola, which is running at Howth Castle until 2 May is holding a…

Skerries RNLI returning to the station with one of the two kayakers who was showing signs of hypothermia

Skerries Lifeboat Crew Rescue Stranded Kayakers From Shenick Island

26th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI were tasked shortly before 11am yesterday morning (Monday 25 April) following a 999 call to Dublin Coast Guard from two kayakers who were stranded on Shenick Island off the North Co Dublin town. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat…

King Sitric Seafood Bar Fundraiser - Head of Engagement for the RNLI, Pete Emmett presents a letter of thanks to Joan, Aidan and Dec Mac Manus of The King Sitric Seafood Bar alongside the local fundraising team of Howth RNLI

Howth Restaurant Raises €35,000 for the RNLI

26th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The King Sitric Seafood Bar raised €35,634 over the past four years for the RNLI as part of the charity’s Fish Supper campaign. Head of Engagement for the RNLI, Pete Emmett visited Howth to present a plaque and a letter…

Polish Kayaker Andrzej Kolobi and his family with the Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat, the

RNLI Lifesavers Reunite with Kayaker They Rescued as Charity issues Mayday Call for Fundraising Appeal

25th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

To help launch this year’s Mayday Mile fundraiser for the RNLI, a lone kayaker who got into difficulty off Clogherhead in County Louth last month, returned to visit the lifeboat crew who saved his life when he capsized in a…

A tow underway by Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat

Lough Ree RNLI Assist 17 People Over Easter Holidays

25th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

From Good Friday (15 April) until the weekend just passed the volunteer crew at Lough Ree RNLI came to the assistance of 17 people who encountered difficulties on and around the lake. Four of the call-outs were to cruisers which…

Union Hall RNLI Crew and shore crew from left to right - Jim Moloney, Peter Deasy, Chris Collins, Riona Casey, Sean Walsh, Paddy Moloney, Niamh Collins, Haulie Hurley and John Kelleher

Union Hall RNLI Launch to a Vessel in Difficulty East of Galley Head in West Cork

25th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer Union Hall RNLI crew in West Cork were requested to launch their inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat Christine and Raymond Fielding, by the Irish Coast Guard at 7.56 pm on Sunday 24th April to a 33-foot vessel with two persons…

Two of the abandoned kayaks were recovered later in the afternoon

Tramore RNLI Go to the Aid of a Group of Kayakers in Difficulty

24th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Tramore RNLI were on a training exercise on Saturday afternoon (23 April) when they were tasked by MRCC and redirected to assist a group of kayakers in difficulty. Upon arrival at the scene minutes later, the crew learned that the…

The RNLI lifeboat in Kilmore Quay launched to assist a yacht with an injured crew member on board

Kilmore Quay RNLI Launch to Yacht with Injured Crew Member

23rd April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilmore Quay RNLI launched on Friday evening (22 April) to assist a yacht with an injured crew member 20 miles off the Wexford coast. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney, by the Irish…

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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