RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Newcastle RNLI Coxswain Gerry McConkey, mechanic Shane Rice and crew members Lochlainn Leneghan, Declan McClelland, Karl Brannigan and Declan Barry have all received a framed RNLI Chief Executive commendation for their efforts that saw them launch their all-weather lifeboat and go to sea for 10 hours in weather conditions that deteriorated to gale force nine winds and rough seas

Six Newcastle RNLI Crew Recognised for Bringing Capsized Rowing Boat Crew to Safety in Gale Force Winds

22nd November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Six crew members from Newcastle RNLI in County Down have been recognised for their courage, determination and teamwork in bringing the crew of a racing rowing boat to safety after it capsized off Ardglass Harbour in June last year. Coxswain…

Pictured Left to Right – Tom Bell (Lifeboat Press Officer) Laura (Manager Co-Op Ballyholme) Bryan Lawther (Bangor RNLI) Murdo Murrey (Co-Op Community Charities Representative)

Bangor RNLI Lifeboat Benefits from Belfast Lough's Community Generosity

22nd November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Bangor RNLI station on Belfast Lough is one of three local charities in Bangor and Ballyholme to benefit from the generosity of the local community. On Monday, 20 November, volunteers from Bangor RNLI were delighted to be presented with a…

Representing Lough Derg RNLI at the Nenagh Municipal District Awards were (from left) lifeboat medical adviser Dr Peter Hooker, helm and press officer Eleanor Hooker, crew member Doireann Kennedy, deputy launching authority Peter Kennedy, fundraising committee chair Niamh McCutcheon and crew member Joe O’Donoghue

Lough Derg RNLI Recognised in 2023 Nenagh Municipal District Awards

22nd November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Volunteers representing Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station were honoured with a scroll and a cheque for €500 at the annual Nenagh Municipal District Awards on Monday evening (20 November) in recognition of their volunteer work on Lough Derg. The award,…

The VDLR Ladies Lunch fundraising cheque was presented to Philip Ferguson (left) on behalf of Dun Laoghaire RNLI this week by Gina Luizzie and Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta Chairman, Don O'Dowd

VDLR 2023's Dubarry Ladies Lunch Raises €1,888 for Dun Laoghaire RNLI

21st November 2023 Volvo Regatta

Ireland's largest regatta, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta boasted almost 500 entries in July, that raised €1,888 for the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat charity at its sell-out Dubarry Ladies Lunch. One of the social highlights of the four day regatta, the…

File image of Carrybridge RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft

Carrybridge RNLI Lifesavers Feature in BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea

19th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Following their fellow Northern Ireland lifeboat volunteers in Larne, as reported last month on Afloat.ie, the crew at Carrybridge RNLI will feature in the latest series of Saving Lives at Sea on BBC Two at 8pm next Thursday 23 November.…

Clogherhead RNlI volunteers on their all-weather lifeboat meet their counterparts from Kilkeel RNLI in their inshore vessel at the scene of two drifting boats near the entrance to Carlingford Lough on Thursday 16 November

Clogherhead Lifeboat Carries Out Double Vessel Rescue

17th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Clogherhead RNLI volunteers were tasked by the Irish Coast Guard on Thursday 16 November to come to the aid of two drifting vessels. Following the request at 1.48pm to assist the two drifting vessels near the entrance to Carlingford Lough,…

Lough Ree RNLI’s state-of-the-art boathouse in Coosan on the River Shannon near Athlone

Lough Ree RNLI Getting Ready for Lifesaving Charity’s 200th Birthday With Pop-Up Shop and Christmas Open Day

14th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

As one of the youngest members of the RNLI family, Lough Ree RNLI and its volunteer crew are already looking forward to a special year in 2024 when the charity celebrates its 200th birthday. With the theme of ‘Commemorate, Celebrate,…

Members of Clifden RNLI’s fundraising branch received medals recognising their combined 400 years of fundraising in Connemara at a recent event

Long Service Awards for Clifden RNLI Volunteers With Combined 400 Years of Fundraising

12th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

At a recent awards ceremony, some 14 members of Clifden RNLI’s fundraising branch received long service medals recognising their combined 400 years of fundraising in Connemara. As a fully independent charity organisation, the RNLI relies on donations to fund its…

File image of Kilrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Kilrush Lifeboat Assists Two on Adrift Fishing Vessel

10th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilrush RNLI’s volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat on Friday morning (10 November) to assist two people onboard a fishing vessel that was adrift in challenging conditions. At 9am, the lifeboat launched at the request of Valentia Coast Guard to…

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

Aran Islands Lifeboat Carries Out Medevac From Inis Meáin

7th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI carried out a medical evacuation from Inis Meáin on Monday afternoon (6 November). Volunteers’ pagers went off at 3.14pm following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to go to the aid of a patient on the…

Wicklow RNLI crew Commended - Area Lifeboat Manager Lisa Hollingum presenting the commendations to Coxswain Ciaran Doyle, Peter Byrne (Station Mechanic), Carol Flahive, Paul Sillery and Stephen Kenny

Wicklow Lifeboat Crew Receive Commendation from RNLI

7th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Six Wicklow lifeboat volunteers have been honoured with meritorious awards from the RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, for their part in the rescue of three fishermen off the Wicklow coast earlier this year as Afloat reported here. On Wednesday evening…

Heather Kennedy officially took up the Lifeboat Operations Manager position at Portaferry on 12 October 2023

Former Portaferry RNLI Crew Member Heather Kennedy is New Lifeboat Operations Manager

6th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A former lifeboat crew member who joined the volunteer team at Portaferry RNLI on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland in 1980 when she was just 17 has recently returned to her hometown, where she has now taken up the reins…

Skerries RNLI bringing the father-and-son kitesurfers to safety on Friday afternoon 3 November

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Father-and-Son Kitesurfers

4th November 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI rescued two men, a father and son, who had got into difficulty in the water while kitesurfing on Friday afternoon (3 November). The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched by the volunteers in Skerries shortly before…

Baltimore RNLI Provides Second Medical Evacuation in Two Days from Cape Clear Island

29th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A resident of Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork was evacuated for medical assistance following an accident on Sunday. Baltimore RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew received a call at 12.39 pm and launched their all-weather lifeboat to provide…

File image of Baltimore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat The Alan Massey

Baltimore Lifeboat Called for Medevac From Cape Clear Island

28th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide a medical evacuation on Friday morning (28 October) from Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat The Alan Massey at 10.44am following a…

File image of Clifden RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Clifden Lifeboat Rescues Three Walkers Cut Off by Tide at Omey Island

25th October 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Clifden RNLI’s volunteer crew were tasked by the Irish Coast Guard at 1.45pm on Tuesday (26 October) following a report that three people were stranded on Omey Island. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was launched by volunteer helm Kenny Flaherty…

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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