Two volunteers representing continuing generations of lifeboat service with the RNLI will lead the annual Christmas Eve ceremony on Dun Laoghaire’s East Pier next week.

Former crew-member and now Deputy Launching Authority Eddie Totterdell and his son Conor who recently joined the station will lay two wreaths at sea in memory of 15 volunteers that died on service on this day 120 years ago, as well as all lives lost around our coasts in 2015.

The crew of the RNLI lifeboat station at Dun Laoghaire hold this annual ceremony as part of a long-standing local tradition and descendants of the 1895 volunteers are especially welcome as well as anyone who wishes to attend including families.

Both RNLI lifeboats stationed at Dun Laoghaire will launch to carry the wreaths to sea. A joint Guard of Honour will be provided by the Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit and Civil Defence.

The short ceremony will take place at mid-day on Christmas Eve at the lighthouse end of Dun Laoghaire's popular East Pier and will include music, an ecumenical blessing, a contemporary newspaper account of the 1895 tragedy and a piped lament.

The ceremony remembers the lives of the 15 volunteer crew that died when their lifeboat capsized in gale force winds while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme that had run aground off Blackrock, Co. Dublin. All lives lost at sea in the past year will also be included in the ceremony.

Relatives of the original 1895 lifeboat crew are expected to be amongst those who will walk the pier. Musician William Byrne and journalist Fergal Keane will be joined by Paul McNally of Dublin Fire Brigade as a lone piper on the East Pier lighthouse battery during the short ceremony that has been facilitated by the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company. The ecumenical blessing will be followed by the wreath-laying close to the East Pier.

In case of inclement weather, an alternative ceremony will still be held closer to the lifeboat station.

As usual, RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews at 44 stations countrywide will be on call throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

Baltimore RNLI received an an alert from Valentia Coastguard at 09:29 this morning when a young boy in urgent need of medical attention required immediate evacuation from Cape Clear Island.

Coxswain Aidan Bushe along with 5 volunteer crewmen were launched within minutes of the alert. They proceeded in poor weather conditions to the North Harbour of Cape Clear Island against a swell of 3 metres and force 6-7 northwest winds.

When the lifeboat crew arrived at the pier the little boy was unresponsive. He was immediately stretchered aboard the the lifeboat where he was constantly monitored on the journey back to Baltimore. The lifeboat arrived at Baltimore pier at 10:30, from where the boy was transferred to Skibbereen for medical attention.

The evacuation was successfully completed in one hour, a remarkable achievement given that current weather conditions have meant frequent cancellation of local ferries.

On board were ; Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell, crew Sean McCarthy, Jerry Smith, Ronnie Carty and Don O'Donovan

Baltimore RNLI Tamar class Lifeboat Alan Massey launched last night to go to the assistance of a fishing vessel which ran aground in Glandore Harbour. The Lifeboat was tasked at 2125 and arrived in Glandore Harbour where the Union Hall Inshore Lifeboat was evacuating the crew from the stricken vessel. The fishing vessel subsequently drifted off the rocks and was taken in tow by the Baltimore Lifeboat towards the safety of Union Hall.

Weather conditions are force 7 to 8 with a 4 metre swell offshore but the vessel grounded in the more sheltered waters of Glandore Harbour. On board the Baltimore Lifeboat were; Coxswain Kieran Cotter Mechanic Jerry Smith. Crew Pat Collins, Kieran Collins, Don O’Donovan, Ronnie Carty and Colin Whooley

An RNLI Shannon Class Lifeboat fitted with waterjets gives a demonstration of the exceptional manoeuvrability of waterjet-driven boats.

The demonstration shows the slow speed agility as well as the controlled turn of pace given by the waterjet propulsion system.

This Shannon Class lifeboat was built at Berthon in Lymington and goes on station at Montrose. The lifeboat was fitted with Hamilton HJ364 Waterjets combined with the power of 2 Scania Di13 12.7 litre engines with over 650 horsepower. 

Lough Swilly RNLI received the first Shannon class lifeboat in Ireland in March this year.

The RNLI’s partnership with this year’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has raised €16,590 for the charity that saves lives at sea.

The proceeds were raised through a successful fundraising prize draw, which saw raffle tickets sold throughout Cork and beyond in the run up to this year’s festival which took place from 22-26 October.

The winner of the first prize trip for two for five nights to New Orleans including flights and accommodation was Kathleen Kelleher from Ballyphehane. Michael Hickey from Dungourney took the second prize of two tickets to Van Morrison and one night bed and breakfast in a Dublin hotel while Fiona Hanley from Courtmacsherry won the third prize which was a two night midweek bed and breakfast break at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney.

The RNLI has eight lifeboat stations in County Cork located in Youghal, Ballycotton, Crosshaven, Kinsale, Courtmacsherry, Union Hall, Baltimore and Castletownbere.

Thanking everyone involved with the fundraiser, Mary Creedon, RNLI Community Fundraising Manager said: ‘We were delighted to be associated with this year’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival and are thankful to the organisers for choosing the charity that saves lives at sea.

‘Last year lifeboats in Cork launched 163 times and brought 255 people safely to shore. Thanks to everyone who sold or bought a ticket in the run up to the jazz festival and over the course of the festival weekend, we were able to raise a wonderful sum of money which will now be used to provide our volunteers with the first class training and equipment they need to carry out their lifesaving work.’

The RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, has joined forces with World champion and European sprint hurdle medallist Derval O’Rourke (and wife of Olympic sailor Peter O'Leary) to launch three RNLI Reindeer Runs in Cork and Dublin.

The three time Olympian athlete and author visited Fota House and Gardens outside Cobh to team up with volunteer lifeboat crew and kick-start the festivities for the upcoming reindeer runs. The events will be held at Liss Ard Estate in Skibbereen on Sunday 22 November, Fota House and Gardens outside Cobh on Sunday 29 November and Marlay Park in Dublin on Sunday 6 December.

Due to the popularity of the reindeer runs, the charity has introduced a third venue at Liss Ard Estate this year. The stunning 200-acre estate in West Cork is located close to the RNLI’s newest lifeboat station at Union Hall which was established on a trial basis in September last year.

Launching the reindeer runs, Derval was joined by Union Hall RNLI crew members Shane and Stephen Hurley, Helvick Head RNLI crew member Liam Harty and Youghal RNLI crew member Martin Morris.

Born and raised in County Cork where the RNLI has eight lifeboat stations, RNLI supporter Derval, is familiar with the charity’s lifesaving work:
‘Living in Cork, I am all too aware of the search and rescue work the RNLI carries out around the coast and of the commitment of its lifeboat crews who dedicate themselves to regular training and to responding to their pagers at any time of the day or night.
‘Having experienced the festive spirit at an RNLI reindeer run for the first time last year, I am delighted to see that the event is going from strength to strength and that the RNLI has introduced an additional venue for West Cork. These events are a great way for us to build in some exercise in what can be a hectic season while also showing our support for our lifeboat crews as they continue to save lives at sea.’

Looking forward to the first reindeer run at Liss Ard Estate which begins at 10.30am, Stephen Hurley from Union Hall RNLI said: ‘We have had a busy first year in Union Hall and have been overwhelmed by the goodwill shown by the people of West Cork and much further afield.

‘Last year, RNLI lifeboats in Cork launched 163 times, bringing 218 people to safety. Across Ireland, there were 1,089 lifeboat launches and 1,414 people were rescued. While the figures show that our lifeboat crews are busy all year round, some of our most challenging call outs will occur over the winter months. However, having the support of people who so generously fundraise and sign up to take part in events such as the reindeer runs, means that we can avail of first class training and equipment and be ready to answer the call and help someone in need when our pagers go off.’

The second reindeer run in Cork takes place on Sunday, 29 November at Fota House and Gardens, starting at 10.30am.

Dublin’s reindeer run will take place in Marlay Park in Rathfarnham on Sunday 6 December, starting at 10am.

All abilities and ages are catered for with participants choosing from a 5km or 10km walk/run or a shorter Santa Saunter.

Registration for the three events is now open online at rnli.org/reindeer and costs €20 for the 5K and €22 for the 10K. Children’s tickets are €10 and a family ticket (two adults and two children) is €55. All participants in the 5K and 10K will receive an RNLI Reindeer Run t-shirt, a pair of antlers and a car sticker.

Volunteer lifeboat crew at Red Bay RNLI launched at 5am this morning (5 November) to assist a two man American crew aboard a 40 ft yacht that had run aground off Waterfoot Pier near Red Bay in county Antrim. The yacht was travelling from Oban in Scotland to Howth Yacht Club when it ran aground.

The call for help had originally come last night at 8.55pm and Red Bay RNLI was launched to assist. On arrival they found the yacht hard aground at Waterfoot Pier. The lifeboat went to assist along with a nearby fishing vessel but with a low tide they found that the yacht was hard aground and stuck fast.

With conditions good and visibility clear the lifeboat crew shot the anchors off the yacht to secure it and ensure that it would remain safe during the evening. They checked that the two American crew aboard were unharmed and the Coastguard kept in touch with them during the night. With the tide set to rise at 5am this morning Red Bay RNLI launched again and was able to free the yacht from the rocks. The two men were taken to a nearby mooring before they will continue on their journey to Howth in Dublin.

Commenting on the callout Red Bay RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer Paddy McLaughlin said, ‘Thankfully conditions were good last night but we were concerned that they were due to change this morning. The lifeboat launched at 5am when the tide had risen and the yacht was safely refloated with no damage sustained. The two men who are none the worse for their ordeal will be able to continue on their journey to Howth this morning.’

#RNLI - Today – 1 November 2015 – marks 100 years since the end one of the most daring days in the history of Rosslare RNLI, when the station's volunteers rescued six crews within a single 24-hour period.

With the Wexford coast being assailed by easterly Force 7 gales on Hallowe'en that climbed to Force 10 overnight, and vessels in Rosslare Harbour dragging their anchors towards danger, the lifeboat crew rowed right into the thick of it - plucking crews from schooners and other vessels that would soon after be bound for the seabed.

The RNLI has much more on the story HERE.

Two people were rescued by RNLI lifeboats on Dublin Bay last night in near gale conditions. The rescue at Dun Laoghaire last night happened after the boat they were on became snagged on lobster pots 50 metres from the East Pier. The National Yacht Club reported its launch missing from the East Pier last night around the same time.

The incident occurred around 10.30pm when they called for help by mobile phone. The Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC Dublin) requested that the RNLI Inshore lifeboat (ILB) launch followed by the All-Weather lifeboat. The Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit carried out searches along the shoreline at the East Pier where a heavy swell was building. Conditions were South-South East Force 6-7 (Near Gale force) with wind against tide sea state building.

The 20-foot motor launch had become snagged in lobster pots on the Scotsman’s Bay side of the East Pier. The three-man ILB crew transferred the two casualties to the larger lifeboat that brought them to shore where the Coast Guard unit was waiting. Both were unhurt in the incident.

The lifeboats then brought an anchor and tackle out to the vessel in an attempt to keep it in position until today’s forecast gale abates.

“This was a happy ending for what could easily have become a tragedy on a dark and windy night,” commented Robert Fowler, Deputy Launching Authority (DLA) at RNLI Dun Laoghaire. “Our volunteer crew launched within eight minutes of the alert and were with the casualties very quickly in spite of the sea conditions. The role of the RNLI is purely life-saving and the close co-operation with our Irish Coast Guard colleagues meant that two people were in safe hands within 20 minutes of their distress call.”

The motor launch is still at anchor close to the East Pier this afternoon but it could be Tuesday morning before attempts can be made to safely recover it.

Read our UPDATE to this story here

As part of an effort to find the source of a Mayday call off Cork Harbour today, owners of boats named ‘Bluebird’ around Ireland have been contacted by the Coastguard.

No yacht has been found after a major six-hour search effort off Cork Harbour and the Cork coast this morning.

The search and rescue operation got underway at 9.25am when the Valentia Coast Guard was called with a report of a yacht in trouble.

Contact was received over VHF radio that a 32–foot yacht called ‘Bluebird’ was experiencing engine trouble and sinking around one mile south of Roche’s Point.

The Coast Guard sent out three boats inlcuding local RNLI Lifeboats and two rescue helicopters, accompanied by naval boats and a number of local vessels. The search continued for six hours, concluding at around 3pm.

An area stretching from Waterford down to Galley Head in Cork was searched, with a 6 km square area near to where the yacht was believed to be covered.

Investigations are underway to discover the source of the distress call.

It has been suggested by someone involved in the search operation that it may have been a hoax call, although a spokesperson for Valentia Coast Guard has said that there is nothing to confirm this.

A hoax call to the service over VHF radio would be considered unusual.

The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been involved in the effort, and is checking with ‘Bluebird’ boat owners in the United Kingdom.

No further search is taking place at this time, although a warning has gone out to boats in the area to alert the Coast Guard if they spot anything in the area.