RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Aran Islands lifeboat tows the angling boat back to Kilronan Harbour

Aran Islands RNLI Respond to Angling Boat with Engine Difficulty & Nine People Onboard

31st August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

The Aran Islands volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to launch their All-Weather Severn Lifeboat at 2.48 pm, yesterday (Monday, August 30th). An 11.6 metre angling boat, with nine people aboard, was experiencing engine problems…

The 26-foot yacht, with six people on board had been dismasted just off the East Calf Island

Dismasted Yacht Requires Baltimore RNLI Assistance in Roaringwater Bay

30th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI was called out to provide assistance to six people on a yacht in difficulty yesterday afternoon (Sunday 29 August) off East Calf Island in West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 3 pm, following…

File image of Carrybridge RNLI’s rescue water craft and inshore lifeboat

Carrybridge Lifeboat Assists Five on Grounded Sports Cruiser

29th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft were launched yesterday afternoon (Saturday 28 August) to assess a vessel in distress with five people on board. The sport cruiser had run aground some two miles upstream from Bellanaleck in the…

Fethard RNLI Helps Three People after 17ft Dory Boat Breaks Down off Wexford Coast

27th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI came to the aid of two adults and a child yesterday evening (Thursday 26 August) after their 17ft Dory boat suffered engine failure and was in danger of verging into a nearby shipping lane. The volunteer crew were…

Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat on Strangford Lough

Portaferry Lifeboat Rescues Three From Strangford Lough After Punt Capsizes

27th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI were called out yesterday evening (Thursday 26 August) at 5.44pm after members of the public reported three people in the water after their small punt capsized on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. Helmed by Fergal Glynn and with…

Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier

Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Two on Small Fishing Vessel With Engine Failure

27th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Lough Derg RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers were diverted from exercise in Dromineer Bay last night (Thursday 26 August) to assist two people on a 12ft fishing boat with engine failure just off the Goat Road, on the eastern shore of the…

Passing the White Bridge RNLI Lifeboat with swimmers Karen Delaney & Serena Friel (L-R) in the foreground

Lough Ree Women Set Lake Swim Record in Aid of RNLI

26th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Just before tea-time yesterday (25 August) Serena Friel and Karen Reynolds swam under the Town Bridge in Athlone to complete an amazing 32km swim, the entire length of Lough Ree, in 10 hours and 13 minutes raising thousands of euro for…

File image of Wexford RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Three Rescued by Wexford RNLI After Powerboat Breaks Down

25th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Wexford RNLI launched this morning (Wednesday 25 August) to rescue three people after their powerboat suffered engine failure. The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 10.12am and arrived at the scene to assess the situation five minutes later. All…

File image of Galway RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Galway Lifeboat Rescues Nine After RIB Runs Aground in Ballyvaughan Bay

25th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

A crew of nine were rescued by Galway RNLI last night (Tuesday 24 August) after their RIB ran aground in Ballyvaughan Bay. With the boat’s propeller and engine damaged, the crew used VHF communications to alert the Irish Coast Guard…

From left: Anne Maher, lifeboat mechanic Michael Cattigan John O’Toole and lifeboat crew member Patrick McNamara

Family Thanks Achill Island Lifeboat Crew After Father’s Safe Return Home

24th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI were delighted yesterday evening (Monday 23 August) to be able to bring home a patient they had medically evacuated from Inishturk almost two months ago. The volunteer lifeboat crew had provided a medevac for 88-year-old John O’Toole…

Lough Derg RNLI Assist 3 People on Motor Cruiser Aground at the entrance to the Scarriff River

24th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

On Monday evening, 23 August, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assess a cruiser reported aground by a concerned member of the public. The cruiser was said to be in Scarriff Bay, north of the…

Fenit RNLI were tasked to a search for swimmer at 12.40 pm, following the discovery of clothes on a beach

Fenit RNLI Rescue Missing Swimmer After Extensive Search off Castlegregory

23rd August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteer lifeboat crew from Fenit RNLI rescued a swimmer last night (Sunday 22 August) following an extensive search after clothes had been found on a beach at Castlegregory earlier in the day. Fenit RNLI and Rescue 115 had been requested…

Double Medical Evacuation for Aran Islands RNLI

23rd August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were called to two medical evacuations from Inis Oirr and Inis Mór yesterday (Sunday 22 August). At 3.42 pm the crew were asked by the Irish Coast Guard to launch their all-weather Severn class…

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Join Night Search for Missing Sailor

23rd August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI all-weather lifeboat launched at 10 pm on Sunday (22 August) after a sailor was reported missing from a container ship 16 miles off the Wicklow coast. The lifeboat arrived in the search area before 10.45 pm and began…

Howth RNLI recover the upturned RIB tender

Howth RNLI Recover Upturned RIB Which Fell off Power Boat

22nd August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Howth RNLI was tasked by Dublin Coast Guard to recover an upturned RIB tender that fell off the rear of a powerboat. Howth RNLI pagers sounded at 1.00 pm Saturday 21st August 2021 after being tasked by Dublin Coast Guard…

Ellie the dog in the arms of a Dunmore East lifeboat volunteer

Ellie the Dog Rescued By Dunmore East Lifeboat Crew After 30m Fall From Cliff

20th August 2021 RNLI Lifeboats

Dunmore East RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers leapt into action on the report of a dog that fell over a 30m cliff near the Co Wexford town yesterday afternoon (Thursday 19 August). The inshore lifeboat was launched at 2pm at the request…

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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