RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

File image of Bangor RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Continued Surge in Rescue Call-Outs for RNLI Lifeboats Around Irish Coast

22nd July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Lifeboat launches in Bangor, Arranmore, Newcastle, Portaferry and Fethard have added to a surge in rescue call-outs for RNLI stations throughout Ireland in recent days during this extended period of warm and dry weather. On Sunday afternoon (19 July), Bangor…

Ballyglass RNLI crew returning after the 12-hour call-out

Twelve Hours at Sea for Ballyglass Lifeboat to Assist Six on Yacht Taking on Water

21st July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Ballyglass RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch on Friday night (17 July) to a yacht taking on water in Killala Bay with six people on board. Two people were taken off the yacht by Killala Coast Guard, and…

File image of Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat at sea

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Comes to Aid of Lone Sailor Off Raven Point

21st July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

A lone sailor on an eight-metre yacht alerted the Irish Coast Guard that he was in difficulty off Raven Point in Curracloe on Tuesday afternoon (21 July). Rosslare Harbour RNLI were in turn tasked by the coastguard and the all-weather…

The Courtmacsherry lifeboat crew after Saturday’s call-out with launch authorities Philip White and Dan Daly

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Assists Lusitania Diver in Call-Out Alongside Coastguard Helicopter

21st July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Courtmacsherry RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Val Adnams was called out just after 11am on Saturday morning (18 July) when Valentia MRCC activated beepers to respond to an incident 12 miles south of the Seven Heads in West Cork. It emerged that…

Busy Weekend — From left: Aran Islands RNLI assists a disabled yacht; a casualty vessel under tow; Carrybridge RNLI's thermal imaging search for an overdue boater on Lough Erne; and Kilkeel RNLI's Shannon class lifeboat responding to a jet-skier in difficulty on Carlingford Lough.

RNLI Crews Face Surge in Summer Rescue Call-Outs Across Ireland

21st July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Ireland's RNLI volunteers have responded to a string of rescue call-outs as warm weather and increased recreational boating activity kept lifeboat crews busy across the country. Stations at Kilkeel, Carrybridge and the Aran Islands all launched over recent days to…

Safe Return – Castletownbere RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Annette Hutton tows a 33-foot yacht safely into harbour after the vessel lost power and began taking on water off Sheep's Head.

Castletownbere RNLI Tows Yacht to Safety Off Sheep's Head

20th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI launched on Monday afternoon to assist two sailors after their yacht began taking on water off the West Cork coast. The 33-foot yacht was on passage about seven miles west-south-west of Sheep's Head when the crew reported water…

Wexford RNLI volunteer crew member Edel Ennis (right) has successfully achieved full crew status

Wexford RNLI Volunteer Passes Lifeboat Crew Assessment

20th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Wexford RNLI volunteer crew member Edel Ennis has successfully achieved full crew status, marking a significant milestone in her training and development as a member of the lifeboat station’s operational team. All volunteer crew must go through a rigorous training…

Safe Tow: The Aran Islands RNLI tows a 12 to 13-metre sailing ketch after it suffered engine failure off the Skerd Rocks during a busy weekend of west coast rescue callouts.

RNLI Lifeboats and Coast Guard Busy On West Coast As People Flock To the Water

19th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Rescue crews had a very busy weekend on the west coast with back-to-back taskings as people took to the water in the good weather. The Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat has recorded ten callouts over the past week between July 12…

File image of Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Both Portrush Lifeboats Launch to Separate Saturday Incidents

19th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboats were launched Saturday (18 July) to separate incidents within 20 minutes of each other on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. Firstly the inshore lifeboat was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard at…

File image of Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat

Wicklow Lifeboat Brings Two to Safety After Vessel Suffers Mechanical Failure

19th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI volunteers brought two people to safety on Friday afternoon (17 July) after their six-metre boat developed mechanical problems eight miles north-east of Wicklow harbour. The all-weather lifeboat Bridie O’Shea slipped its mooring shortly after 4.10pm under the command…

A crowd of onlookers watch the Shannon class lifeboat Machiko Nancy at sea after the naming ceremony

Larne RNLI Officially Names New Shannon Class Lifeboat ‘Machiko Nancy’

19th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Larne RNLI’s new Shannon class lifeboat has been officially named Machiko Nancy during a special naming ceremony and service of dedication at East Antrim Boat Club in Northern Ireland on Saturday afternoon (18 July). The lifeboat, which went on service…

Safe Tow: Rosslare Harbour RNLI tows a leaking eight-metre yacht to safety after a lone sailor raised the alarm off Raven Point, Curracloe. The skipper was uninjured.

RNLI Tows Waterlogged Yacht to Safety Off Wexford Coast

19th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

A lone sailor was brought safely to Rosslare Harbour after his yacht began taking on water off Raven Point, Curracloe, on Saturday afternoon. Rosslare Harbour RNLI was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard after the skipper of the eight-metre yacht…

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

Aran Islands Lifeboat Crew Respond to Four Taskings in 24 Hours

19th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers responded to four separate taskings over a 24-hour period last weekend — including two medical evacuations, a Mayday call and an overdue vessel. The first call-out came in at 9.40am on Sunday (12 July) when…

Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew return to home base after the multi-agency call-out on Thursday night 16 July

Portaferry Lifeboat Crew Join in Multi-Agency Search for Missing Jet-Skier

18th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Portaferry RNLI’s crew pagers sounded at 8.43pm on Thursday evening (16 July) after Belfast Coastguard were alerted to a personal watercraft found adrift by a passing RIB in the Irish Sea several miles east of the entrance of Strangford Lough.…

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat makes best speed to the casualty vessel on Wednesday evening 15 July

Carrybridge Lifeboat Assists Four on Vessel Run Aground

18th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard shortly before 9pm on Wednesday evening (15 July) to assess a five-metre vessel, with four people on board, which had lost power after hitting a submerged object some two…

Safe Return — Galway RNLI crew return to the lifeboat station after towing a disabled 19ft boat with three people aboard to safety from off Blackrock, Salthill. From left: Kenneth Kitterick, Paddy Hennelly, Brian Niland and Darragh Heskin. Photo: Galway RNLI

Galway RNLI Tows Disabled Boat to Safety Off Salthill

16th July 2026 RNLI Lifeboats

Three people were brought safely to harbour after their 19ft boat suffered engine failure off Blackrock, Salthill, on Wednesday afternoon. Galway RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew launched shortly before 4pm at the request of the Coast Guard after a call for…

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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