RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland
Wicklow RNLI volunteers launched both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats on Sunday morning (1 November) following reports of two swimmers in difficulty at Blainroe, south of Wicklow Head. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 from Dublin, the National Ambulance…
Youghal RNLI was involved in a multi-agency rescue on Thursday morning (5 November) after a car got into difficulty on the Waterford side of Youghal Bridge. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 9.04am. The lifeboat,…
Portrush RNLI all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by the coastguard on Sunday evening (1 November) at 7.06pm to reports of a 14-metre fishing vessel that had suffered engine failure just off Ballycastle Harbour. The volunteer crew launched at 7.26pm…
Wexford Lifeboat Called to Assist Windsurfer in Difficulty During Storm Boelo
28th October 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Wexford RNLI volunteers were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at 3.20pm on Saturday (24 October 2026) following reports from members of the public on the shore of a windsurfer in difficulty near Ardcavan beach…
The US visitor who nearly lost his life after a wave swept him off the middle ledge at Poll na bPéist, Inis Mór, last month has described the details of his rescue. As he recounts in an interview with RTÉ…
Tramore Lifeboat Assists Two Fishermen After Vessel Suffers Engine Failure
20th October 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Tramore RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat last Friday (16 October) to assist two people aboard a small fishing boat that had suffered engine failure off the Waterford coast. The crew’s pagers sounded at noon following a request to launch…
Howth RNLI has confirmed that construction is underway on its new Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat, which will replace the station's Trent-class Roy Barker III next year after almost 25 years of service. Howth RNLI's new Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat is already under…
Enniskillen RNLI volunteers assisted six people during two separate callouts on Lower Lough Erne over 48 hours after mechanical problems left two boats requiring assistance. Enniskillen RNLI's inshore lifeboat, John and Jean Lewis, was launched twice on Tuesday, 6 October,…
Dún Laoghaire, Rosslare Harbour, Wicklow and Sligo Bay are to receive the RNLI's new coastal lifeboat class between 2028 and 2030, under a major restructuring of rescue capabilities around Ireland and Britain. The RNLI has confirmed that four Irish lifeboat…
The new lifeboat, operational since April, replaces the Minnie and Ernest George Barry, which launched 265 times over almost 19 years at Lough Swilly and rescued 233 people, including five lives saved. As previously reported by Afloat.ie, Davdot arrived in Buncrana on 8…
The RNLI plans to build eight of its next-generation coastal lifeboats in the first year of production, with two prototypes scheduled for 2027 and the first operational vessel expected to enter service in 2028. The charity has outlined the next…
President Catherine Connolly visited Arklow RNLI in Co Wicklow on Friday (9 October) to mark the lifeboat station's 200th anniversary, recognising two centuries of volunteer service during which crews have been credited with saving more than 443 lives. Accompanied by…
Carrybridge RNLI volunteers assisted three people in two separate incidents within 90 minutes on Saturday, 3rd of October, including a grounding near Naan Island and a person who fell into the water close to the lifeboat station. The first call…
Portrush Lifeboat Launches to Reports of Kayakers in Difficulty Off White Rocks
4th October 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Portrush RNLI was requested to launch by the coastguard at lunchtime on Sunday (4 October) to reports of kayakers in difficulty at White Rocks on Northern Ireland’s North Coast. The two persons with their inflatable kayak had entered the water…
Donaghadee RNLI launched late on Wednesday night (30 September) after a fishing boat was reported to have collided with a cargo vessel east of the Copeland Islands. HM Coastguard paged the volunteer crew at 11.20 pm after a report that…
Portrush Lifeboat in Daybreak Launch to Fishing Vessel in Difficulty at Inishowen
1st October 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by the coastguard early on Thursday morning (1 October) to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty at Inishowen. The vessel with five persons on board had run aground and Greencastle Coastguard…
