RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

At the first lifeboat launch from new Lough Ree RNLI boathouse – foreground; Bernie Larkin, Kieran Sloyan & Matt Harte, in boat Liam Sheringham, Stewart McMickan & Emmet Devereux

First Ever Launch from New Lough Ree RNLI Boathouse

4th April 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

On Friday last (April 1) the volunteer crew at Lough Ree RNLI performed the first-ever launch of the charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ from its newly commissioned boathouse at Coosan Point, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Launched just before 5 pm the volunteer…

Portrush Lifeboat Launches to Dog That Fell From Cliff Near Giant’s Causeway

28th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard shortly after 9am yesterday morning (Sunday 27 March) to assist with the search for a dog that had fallen off cliffs at Port Coon near the Giant’s Causeway. The owner and…

Union Hall RNLI - (From left to right) John Kelleher Lifeboat Operations Manager, Crew Liam Limrick, Sean Walsh, Darren Collins, Helm Michael Limrick, Niamh Collins and Denis Nolan

Union Hall RNLI Launch to a Speedboat in Difficulty in Glandore Harbour

27th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Union Hall RNLI in West Cork launched to a speedboat in difficulty in Glandore Harbour on Saturday, March 2th. The 16-foot speedboat with three persons on board had lost power between Adam and Eve at the entrance to Glandore harbour.…

Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s volunteer crew extracting Thor the black lab from the breakwater rocks beneath the eastern marina pier

Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Crew Rescue Dog Stuck in Breakwater Rocks After Fall From Pier

26th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s volunteers rescued a dog after he fell off Dun Laoghaire’s eastern marina pier into the rocky breakwater below. Thor’s owners were enjoying a sunny morning stroll on Thursday (24 March) when the five-year-old black labrador unexpectedly thundered…

RNLI Lough Derg Lap The Lake 2022 poster

‘Countrywide Support’ for Lough Derg RNLI’s Fundraising Cycle This May

25th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s Fundraising Branch has revealed more details of its first ‘Lap the Lake’ charity cycle this May. And its chair Niamh McCutcheon says the lifeboat station’s biggest fundraiser undertaking to date is being “widely supported around the country”…

Arklow Lifeboat Assists Two on Vessel With Engine Failure

22nd March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI came to the aid of two people yesterday (Monday 21 March) following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to assist a vessel which had lost propulsion. Within minutes, the volunteer crew were aboard the all-weather lifeboat Ger…

Lough Ree RNLI taking part in water safety display on River Shannon in Athlone on Saturday last (19 March).

Two Call Outs for Lough Ree RNLI Volunteer Crew on Busy Holiday Weekend

21st March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The first public holiday weekend of the year saw Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat volunteer crew respond to two call-outs and come to the aid of four people stranded on the lake. On St. Patrick’s Day (Thursday 17 March) the crew…

Clifden RNLI’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat

Clifden Lifeboat Launches to Three Teen Kayakers in Difficulty Near Letterfrack

21st March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI’s volunteer crew were called out at the weekend following reports of three teenage kayakers having drifted from the shore in Ballinakill Bay, near Letterfrack in Connemara. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat was launched at 4.20pm on Saturday afternoon…

Howth RNLI inshore lifeboat as seen from the stern of the all weather lifeboat en route to assist kayakers off Malahide

Howth RNLI Launch Both Lifeboats to Aid Kayakers in Difficulty

13th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The crew of Howth RNLI launched both their Inshore and All-Weather lifeboats today (Sunday 13 March) to reports of six kayakers in difficulty off the coast of Malahide with one person having capsized and struggling in the water. Howth inshore…

New Helm for Carrybridge Lifeboat Station

11th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

A volunteer crew member from Carrybridge Lifeboat Station successfully completed the rigorous RNLI helm assessment this past Wednesday 9 March. Twenty-nine-year-old Kyle Boyd works for Openreach and has spent a lifetime on Upper and Lower Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh,…

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain Dean Hegarty with crew David O’Donovan, Martin Cronin, Dave Fenton, Seamus Harrington, Marc O’Hare and Donagh Murphy who went to the assistance of the Irish Navy vessel L.E. George Bernard Shaw

Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat Assists Injured Irish Navy Crewman

10th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI was launched last night (Wednesday 09 March 2022) just after 22:00 to go to the assistance of a crewman onboard the Irish Navy vessel L.E. George Bernard Shaw who had become injured during sea exercises off the coast…

Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat returns to base after a successful tow in difficult conditions

Portrush Lifeboat Launches to Fishing Vessel Adrift With Engine Trouble

9th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

It was a busy afternoon on International Women’s Day for one of Portrush RNLI’s three women crew volunteers as the lifeboat was launched on Tuesday 8 March to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty. The 26ft vessel with two…

The Irish Underwater Search and Recovery team receiving their cheque with Irishtown/Ringsend Lord Mayor Derek Buckley, and Philip Smith and Dave Cox of St. Patrick’s Rowing Club

All in a Row Challenge Presents €20,000 to RNLI & Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Unit

7th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The “All in a Row” team which smashed a 1,000 km target in eight hours on the Liffey late last year has presented €20,000 to two leading marine rescue charities. The RNLI’s Howth station and the Irish Underwater Search and…

Lough Ree RNLI is in readiness for the move to its new state of the art boathouse in Coosan on the River Shannon near Athlone

Lough Ree RNLI Crew Prepare to Move into €1m Boathouse

7th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Following a series of familiarisation and training programmes over the last three weeks, the volunteer crew at Lough Ree RNLI is in readiness for the move to its new state of the art boathouse in Coosan later this month. The…

The Louth based RNLI Shannon lifeboat at Clogherhead launched for the kayaker

Clogherhead RNLI Rescue Lone Kayaker after Capsize Near Rocky Headland

7th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

The lifeboat crew at Clogherhead RNLI rescued a lone kayaker over the weekend (Saturday 6 March) after they capsized near the local headland and were unable to get back on their craft due to the sea conditions. A local fishing…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Two After Yacht Runs Aground

6th March 2022 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s volunteer crew were called to assist two people on a 37ft yacht that ran aground on the lough on Saturday afternoon (5 March). At 3.36pm the lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh and crew Doireann…

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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