#RNLI - Ireland's RNLI lifeboat crews launched 1,089 times in 2014, bringing 1,414 people to safety.

And the lifesaving charity is calling for the public to think ahead and never underestimate the strength and power of the sea and inland waters as it today releases its 2014 lifeboat launch and rescue statistics, based on detailed returns of service, from each of its 45 lifeboat stations in Ireland.

The figures show more people are getting into difficulty on leisure craft, and the RNLI advises that proper safety advice and maintenance is vital to ensure people stay safe on the water.  



The busiest lifeboat station on the island of Ireland last year was Lough Ree RNLI in Athlone. The charity’s lifeboat crew there launched 69 times and brought 142 people to safety.

This was followed by Howth RNLI, which had 62 launches and brought 107 people to safety, making it their busiest year ever.

Dun Laoghaire RNLI in south Dublin launched 56 times and brought 55 people to safety, while lifeboat crews on the Aran Islands off Galway and Arranmore Island off Donegal launched 78 times, helping 80 people.

Enniskillen RNLI on Lough Erne, which operates two separate lifeboat stations on the upper and lower lough, also had a busy year with 59 calls for assistance and 57 people brought ashore.

Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Bangor RNLI in Co Down was the busiest single site station, launching 49 times and helping 51 people. Portrush RNLI on the Antrim coast launched their lifeboats 31 times and brought 28 people to safety.

In all, RNLI lifeboats in Northern Ireland launched 261 times in 2014, bringing 281 people to safety, while the charity’s lifeguards helped 284 people on 10 beaches during the season.

Compared to the previous year, when they launched 255 times, NI lifeboat launches show a slight increase. A total of 36 more people were brought to safety by RNLI lifeboats in 2014.



While lifeboat launch figures throughout the island of Ireland remain largely the same as last year, there has been a 10% increase in the amount of people brought to safety by lifeboats.

The types of callouts that the RNLI responded to last year included aid to leisure craft users (536), assistance to fishing vessels (140), help to people who got into difficulty along the shoreline (119) and to people in the water (185).



"These figures are based on every lifeboat station in the RNLI returning a detailed service report and are a valuable insight into what our volunteer lifeboat crews are facing when they launch and what conditions they face," said RNLI operations manager Owen Medland.

"Overall 35% of our lifeboat callouts were carried out in the hours of darkness. Almost half of the callouts last year were to leisure vessels and of these callouts many were to groundings and engine problems.

"Breaking down at sea or on a lough can be a frightening experience. Weather and darkness can turn a bad situation very serious in a matter of minutes. Nobody who sets out thinks anything bad will happen but calling for help early is always the right choice."

Medland continued: "Our volunteer lifeboat and shore crews have shown the commitment and courage we have come to rely on them for, but we must also thank our supporters and fundraisers, who work tirelessly to ensure the charity, which is dependent on donations from the public continues.

"There are also hundreds of employers around the country who let our lifeboat crews drop what they are doing and respond to a callout. We would not be able to run this service without them and we are extremely grateful to them for that."



Last year also saw the introduction of the RNLI’s 45th lifeboat station in Ireland, when Union Hall RNLI in south west Cork went on trial for a 24-month period in November.

And in the coming months, Lough Swilly RNLI in Buncrana, Co Donegal will become the first station in Ireland to receive the new Shannon-class lifeboat.

The €2.4 million lifeboat, which is due to arrive later this year, is the first class of lifeboat to be named after an Irish river, recognition by the charity of the role of Irish lifeboat crews and volunteers throughout the history of the RNLI.

In 2014 the charity marked 190 years of lifesaving and the RNLI is aiming to reduce coastal drowning significantly by 2024.

To do this, it will be expanding its preventative work and will launch Respect the Water, engaging with water users on how to stay safe and maintain their equipment. Water safety advice is available on rnli.org/safety.

#RNLI - The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI's lifeboat received the Emergency Response Team of the Year award at a ceremony on Saturday night (24 January).

The 2015 Community and Council Awards celebrated by LAMA (Local Authority Members Association) took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, North Dublin and saw community groups from all over the country recognised for their achievements in the past year.

The lifeboat crew from the popular Donegal surfing haunt, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary, were nominated by Donegal County Councillor Barry O’Neill.

"What this crew do is of upmost importance not just to Bundoran but to the whole region and they are carrying on a legacy for the people who had the vision to establish the service in the first place," he said.

Accepting the award on behalf of the crew at the ceremony, volunteer press officer Shane Smyth, along with senior helm Elliot Kearns, said: "We are thrilled to be here tonight to accept this award for the volunteer crew which is a testament to their commitment to the RNLI ethos of saving lives at sea.

"Each one of our crew, be they on the boat or not, volunteers their time and skills all year round in order to keep our coastline safer and I know they will be delighted with this accolade tonight."

RNLI divisional operations manager Darren Byers added: "This is a great honour for Bundoran RNLI. Every one of our lifeboat stations operates to the highest standards.

"What many people will not know is that behind the big rescues and stories, there is a dedicated group of people who train all year round and who are always ready to drop everything to ensure the lifeboat launches to help those in trouble.

"From the lifeboat crew to the shore crew and station management to the dedicated fundraisers, they all work together on behalf of their community to rescue, to serve, to raise awareness and to educate. Well done to everyone at Bundoran RNLI."

The award came less than a week ahead of the crew’s 40th annual fundraising dinner dance with music from country star Johnny Brady, which takes place at the Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran this Friday 30 January.

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched shortly after 5.30pm yesterday evening (Sunday 25 January) to investigate a reported floating object drifting near the shore opposite the Murrough Carpark.

The lifeboat was on scene three minutes after launching and began an immediate sweep of the area. With light fading, the all-weather lifeboat also launched to assist using searchlights.

Shortly after 6.10pm, while searching the bay, the lifeboat volunteers responded to a second incident, this time south of Wicklow Head.

Members of the public walking on Magheramore Beach contacted the Irish Coast Guard to report a flashing light on rocks near the beach, concerned it might be a person in difficulties.

Both lifeboats immediately proceeded south, and once on scene the crews began a coastal sweep, using parachute flares to illuminate the search area.

The inshore crew located and made contact with two men fishing on rocks a short time later. They were in no danger and did not require assistance.

At 6.40pm, both lifeboats were stood down by the coastguard and returned to station.

The all-weather lifeboat crew were coxswain Nick Keogh, nechanic Tommy Murphy, Ciaran Doyle, Tommy McAulay, Kevin Rahill, Carol Flahive, John Vize and Paul Sillery. The inshore lifeboat crew were helm Vinny Mulvihill, Graham Fitzgerald and Brian Sinnott.

#RNLI - Howth RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched at 5.30am yesterday morning (Sunday 25 January) to reports of man in the water in Howth Harbour.

The lifeboat crew launched in minutes after a passer-by raised the alarm, locating the casualty just off the middle pier. Weather conditions were good and visibility in the harbour area was excellent.

The casualty was rescued from the water, given oxygen and treated for hypothermia en route back to shore, before he was transferred to hospital by a waiting ambulance.

Howth RNLI helm Ian Martin said: "We were pleased to have been able to respond and launch so quickly, using our training to recover the casualty from the water and ultimately save a life in the early hours this morning."

#RNLI - Lough Derg RNLI launched in severe weather conditions to assist two canoeists in difficulty on the lough yesterday (Friday 9 January).

And on returning to station, the lifeboat launched again following a report from a distressed member of public that his horse might have strayed close to the Nenagh River and be in difficulty.

Following a request from Valentia Coast Guard, Lough Derg RNLI launched initially at 3pm after a member of the public raised the alarm upon sighting an upturned canoe between Holy Island and Mountshannon.

In addition the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 was deployed from its base at Shannon, while the coastguard lifeboat based at Killaloe was also launched and an ambulance was requested to attend.

En route to the search area, the volunteer lifeboat crew – including helm Peter Clarke, Jason Freeman and Dean O'Sullivan – were informed that they were to search for two people at the scene. Weather conditions were poor, with winds west-southwest Force 7.

Once the lifeboat arrived on scene, the crew was informed that the two people in difficulty had managed to get to land on Holy Island. 

Rescue 115's crew were able to land to recover the two casualties and take them to Limerick Hospital for treatment, as they were reported to be presenting symptoms of hypothermia.

The lifeboat then returned to base at 4.04pm, and as the volunteer crew were readying the lifeboat, a distressed member of the public requested assistance as he believed his horse might have strayed into the Nenagh River.

The crew launched to investigate, but did not locate the horse either in or on the bank of the river. 

Speaking following the callouts, Brian Hanly, Lough Derg RNLI deputy launching authority, said: "It is crucial the public check the weather forecast before going afloat and remember that the water is very cold at this time of year."

Hanly also commended the RNLI volunteer crew for their speedy and professional response to the callout in what were testing conditions.

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI was requested for the first time in 2015 yesterday morning (Thursday 8 January) following a report of a swimmer in difficulty.

The volunteer crew launched their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson at 11.30am following a call to Dublin Coast Guard from a concerned member of the public about a swimmer in the water off Red Island headland.

The lifeboat, with Joe May at the helm and crewed by David Knight, AJ Hughes and Stephen Crowley, launched and proceeded directly to the area indicated by the coastguard.

Arriving on scene, it was discovered there was a local swimming group ashore after returning from a swim. After speaking to the group, the volunteer crew were assured that everyone was accounted for.

The lifeboat performed a precautionary sweep of the area before being stood down and returning to station.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 was also on scene and carried out a search before returning to base.

Speaking after the callout, Gerry Canning, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, said: "Thankfully in this case our assistance wasn’t required. 

"However, the member of public had good intentions and we would always advise people to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard if they think they see someone in difficulty at sea."

#RNLI - In the first callout of the year for Newcastle RNLI in Co Down, both lifeboats were launched in the early hours of Saturday morning (3 January) following reports of a missing male sighted near the beach close to Down Roads.

The inshore lifeboat crew were paged at 3.08am by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to assist local police and coastguard in their search for the missing man.

The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene within minutes to commence a search of the shoreline from the Shimna river mouth to Dundrum Bar.

In a moderate sea state with some big swells and a northwest Force 4-5 wind, the decision was made at 3.29am to launch the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) to assist with the search.

The ALB lifeboat crew stood by and provided cover as the inshore lifeboat manoeuvred its way through the surf. Both lifeboats used white parachute flares to illuminate the search area in poor weather conditions.

Both lifeboats were stood down at 4.35am and returned to station after the man was safely found on land.

Commenting on the callout, Newcastle RNLI helm Dylan Mooney said: "Thankfully the casualty was found safe and well on shore. It was great to put the new lifeboat through its paces once again.

"It handles well in the surf. We used night vision and the search light to help us see in the darkness."

Newcastle RNLI deputy launching authority Raymond Deery added: "We have a dedicated crew here at Newcastle that respond rapidly to the lifeboat pager no matter what the conditions."

The volunteer lifeboat crew for the inshore lifeboat were Dylan Mooney, Gary Agnew and Aaron Latus and on the all-weather lifeboat were Richard Herron, Alan Jones, Peter Uprichard, Fionnuala Niallais, Declan Barry, Daniel Rooney and Aidan Riley.

Shore crew were Paul Beeks, Brian Leneghan, Nathan Leneghan, Niall McMurray and Robert Latus.

#RNLI - A week after Dun Laoghaire RNLI remembered those who lost their lives at sea, Wicklow RNLI held its annual New Year's Day service of remembrance this past Thursday.

The ceremony began with a short religious prayer conducted by Fr Donal Roche and Rev Ken Rue, who blessed the flowers and wreaths.

After the blessing, coxswain Nick Keogh and the lifeboat crew took the floral tributes out to sea and launched them on the water.

The annual ceremony remembers past RNLI volunteers and all associated with the sea from Wicklow.

#Lifeboats - The RNLI in Ireland has put together this thrilling looking back at its year of rescues in 2014 as their lifeboat crews saw it themselves via helmet- or boat-mounted cameras.

Among the callouts featured here involving inshore and coastal lifeboat crews throughout the island of Ireland are some of the more daring night-time rescues.

But there are also some of the year's more unusual incidents, such as when Tramore RNLI were tasked to bring a stranded bull to safety, or the Wicklow inshore lifeboat's mission to rescue a sheep trapped in a sea cave.

#RNLI - Volunteers at Kilmore Quay RNLI were called upon to go to the aid of an American yacht with three people on board in the early hours of Wednesday 17 December.

The 42-foot yacht, which was on passage from Falmouth in the UK to Crosshaven in Cork, was experiencing difficult conditions.

The crew encountered some damage to their rigging, being forced to alter course and run before the southwest wind that was blowing at Force 6.

The yacht was 12 miles to the south of Kilmore Quay in Co Wexford at 11pm when its crew put in a call to the Irish Coast Guard for help.

Kilmore Quay’s all-weather lifeboat Killarney left the harbour at 11.15pm and was alongside the yacht 35 minutes later.

A tow rope was passed to the yacht and its was towed back to the marina at Kilmore Quay, arriving in at 2.30am.