RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Shannon Arrival: Kilkeel RNLI's new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Bobby Cameron, which will be officially named on 22 August.

Kilkeel RNLI to Name New Shannon Lifeboat Bobby Cameron

14th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilkeel RNLI’s new Shannon class lifeboat, Bobby Cameron, will be officially named by its donor at a ceremony at the Co Down lifeboat station on Saturday 22 August. The all-weather lifeboat, which entered service in June, was donated by Margaret…

Farm Alert: Achill Island RNLI attends the 24m sailing vessel after it made contact with a fish farm near Clare Island during a 16-hour emergency operation.

Achill RNLI Rescues 25 After Yacht Hits Mayo Fish Farm

13th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Achill Island RNLI volunteers were involved in a 16-hour operation after a 24-metre sailing vessel carrying 25 people made contact with a fish farm off the Mayo coast and began taking on water. The lifeboat was requested to launch at…

Rescue Response: Ballycotton RNLI’s Trent-class all-weather lifeboat The Austin Lidbury, which joined Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 during a multi-agency rescue following a suspected shark bite off Ardmore.

Ballycotton and Youghal RNLI Join Rescue After Suspected Shark Bite Off Ardmore

12th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

A person was airlifted to hospital following a suspected shark bite off the Waterford coast on Tuesday afternoon, in a multi-agency rescue involving Ballycotton and Youghal RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117. Ballycotton RNLI was requested to…

RNLI lifeboat crew and lifeguards feature in the eleventh series of Saving Lives at Sea, which marks 10 years of the lifesaving programme on the BBC.

Saving Lives at Sea Returns for 11th Series as RNLI Programme Marks 10 Years on BBC

12th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI’s Saving Lives at Sea will return to television screens for an eleventh series this month, marking ten years since the lifesaving series first aired on the BBC. The new 10-part series, featuring RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards from…

Shallow Water: Carrybridge RNLI volunteers navigate in just 0.8 metres of water while responding to a 13-metre Dutch barge aground west of Kilmore Quay with two people and two dogs aboard.

Carrybridge RNLI Assists Barge Aground on Lough Erne

11th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI volunteers were called into action on Monday afternoon after a 13-metre Dutch barge carrying two people and two dogs ran aground on Lough Erne. The station's inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards, launched at 3.49 pm on…

The RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Ruby Robinson powers through heavy seas during a training exercise. The Atlantic 85 Mk4 will introduce upgraded crew seating, improved casualty recovery and new onboard technology.

RNLI's Atlantic 85 MK4 Upgrade Will Enable More Cohesive and Efficient Searches

11th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

The RNLI has published details about the upgrading of the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to the Atlantic 85 MK4. “The Atlantic 85 is the third generation of B-class lifeboat. Its predecessors were the Atlantic 21 and Atlantic 75. With over…

Swift Response: Galway RNLI volunteers Máirtín Folan, Eoin Carey, Leo Branagan and helm James Rattigan head for Aughinish to rescue a lone sailor from a grounded 25ft yacht taking on water. Pierce Purcell supports the launch from the pontoon.

Galway RNLI Rescues Sailor After Yacht Runs Aground

10th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

A Galway RNLI lifeboat crew rescued a lone sailor after a 25ft yacht ran aground and began taking on water on the south shore of Galway Bay on Sunday. The volunteer crew was tasked by the Coast Guard shortly before…

File image of Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat The Austin Lidbury

Ballycotton Lifeboat Rescues Four From Fishing Boat Taking on Water

8th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballycotton RNLI rescued four crew members from a 14-metre fishing vessel that began taking on water some three miles south of Ballycotton Island on Friday afternoon (7 August). The lifeboat crew were requested to launch shortly after 4pm by Valentia…

Beach Rescue — Onlookers and RNLI volunteers watch from Clogherhead beach as the Shannon class lifeboat launches to assist a fishing vessel taking on water just offshore.

Clogherhead RNLI Saves Sinking Fishing Boat Near Shore

7th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Clogherhead RNLI came to the aid of a fishing trawler that was taking on water just half a nautical mile east of the station's boathouse on Wednesday afternoon. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Michael O'Brien launched at 3.15 pm with…

Family Challenge — Arranmore's Team Trasna na dTonnta, from left: Evan, Glenn and Sharon, will row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in the World's Toughest Row to raise funds for the RNLI.

Arranmore Family Rows Atlantic to Support RNLI Volunteers

7th August 2026 Coastal Rowing

A mother and her two sons from Arranmore Island are preparing to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for the RNLI. Team Trasna na dTonnta, made up of Sharon and her sons Evan and Glenn, will…

Milestone Moment — Aran Islands RNLI volunteers, former crew members, emergency services and supporters gather alongside the Severn class lifeboat David Kirkaldy after its landmark 1,000th launch.

Aran Islands RNLI Marks 1,000th Severn Lifeboat Launch

6th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

The Aran Islands RNLI has celebrated a major milestone after its Severn class lifeboat David Kirkaldy completed its 1,000th launch. The volunteer crew was tasked on Tuesday evening (4th of August) to carry out a medical evacuation from Inis Mór.…

Tramore RNLI’s inshore lifeboat approaches the Doneraile cliffs

Tramore Lifeboat Crew Rescue Person in Difficulty on Sea Cliffs

6th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Tramore RNLI launched on Wednesday morning (5 August) at the request of the Irish Coast Guard after beach lifeguards reported a person in difficulty on the Doneraile cliffs close to high tide. Helm Fergal McGrath, along with crew members Conor…

Visitors peruse the various stalls set up at the lifeboat station for Arklow RNLI’s Open Day on Sunday 2 August

Arklow RNLI Thanks Community After Successful Open Day Marking 200th Anniversary

6th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Arklow RNLI has thanked everyone who attended its Open Day on Sunday (2 August) after large crowds visited the lifeboat station to help celebrate the charity’s 200 years of lifesaving service in the town. The family friendly event saw visitors…

Kilkeel RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat on exercise

Kilkeel Lifeboat Rescues Two From Speedboat Stranded on Carlingford Lough

6th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat crew with Kilkeel RNLI launched their Shannon class lifeboat this past weekend to come to the aid of two people left stranded when their small speedboat broke down in a busy shipping channel on Carlingford Lough. The alarm was…

File image of Portaferry RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V at launch

Portaferry Lifeboat Launches to Assist Lone Sailor During Station’s Open Day

5th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI crew pagers sounded shortly before noon on Saturday (1 August) after a pan-pan signal was received from a lone sailor onboard a 6m yacht in the Irish Sea off Portavogie, on Northern Ireland’s Co Down coast. The Atlantic…

Larne RNLI’s inshore Lifeboat Terry travelling towards Browns Bay on Saturday afternoon 1 August

Larne Lifeboat Crew Rescues Two After Jet Skis Break Down

5th August 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI came to the aid of two people onboard two jet skis that had broken down at Browns Bay on Saturday (1 August). The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat Terry at 2.24pm at…

Start
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next
End

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