#RNLI - Kilrush RNLI lifeboat station was put on standby on Monday 29 April for an aircraft with engine trouble, and later called to a person who drove into the water.

At 2pm on Monday the Irish Coast Guard at Shannon alerted the station authorities that there was a private aircraft descending in the region of the River Shannon with engine problems. It was reported that there were four people on board.

After a half an hour the lifeboat crew were informed the plane made a safe landing at Shannon Airport and the station was stood down.



Later that day at 8.47pm pagers were activated by the coastguard in Shannon to alert the crew that a person was reported to have driven off the road into the water in the area of Labasheeda, about nine nautical miles from Kilrush. 

The lifeboat crew assembled and within eight minutes were launched and on their way to this area. Conditions on this evening were most favourable.

After five minutes they were stood down as members of the local Gardai had managed to rescue the driver and bring him ashore. An ambulance was standing by at this area to assist the casualty and team of helpers.



Kilrush lifeboat operations manager John Lamb praised the speed of the crew and the efficiency on which the launch took place.

“At times like these it’s always good to know that our team are trained to the highest standards to deal with callouts such as this evening,” he said.

In other news, President Michael D Higgins will pay a special call to Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat station this weekend during an official visit to the Cork village.

While there he will view an impressive historical exhibition which is running all through the May bank holiday weekend.

The exhibition, which has been planned for months, will have a strong emphasis on the lifeboat and its crew with most families in the village having had loved ones serving as volunteer lifeboat crew since 1825.

To mark this fact, local families have displayed the name of that lifeboat crew member outside their home and placed a pair of wellington boots on their doorstep. The yellow lifeboat boot is an iconic piece of the RNLI crew members' kit.

President Higgins is expected to arrive in Courtmacsherry at 4pm on Sunday 5 May and will first visit the lifeboat station where he will be met by volunteer lifeboat crew past and present and members of the station management and fundraisers.

The station has a proud history of lifesaving with 14 awards for gallantry.

Courtmacsherry RNLI launched after the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 when the lifeboat crew rowed for over three hours in a desperate bid to reach survivors from the torpedoed vessel off the Old Head of Kinsale.

And during the Fastnet Race tragedy of 1979, in which 15 sailors lost their lives, the Courtmacsherry lifeboat was among of group of RNLI boats that spent 75 hours at sea in 60-knot winds.

#RNLI - Lough Derg RNLI in Tipperary had a celebration for Nick Theato earlier this month as he handed over the role of treasurer to Caleb Clarke.

On Thursday 14 April, Theato brought his wife Mary and three of his five children - Barry (home from Australia), Anne and Paul (home from the UK) - down to the station to meet crew and members of the operations and fundraising committees.

Nick Theato, who has served as honorary treasurer for the Nenagh RNLI Fundraising Branch for the past 15 years and for the Lough Derg RNLI since it came on service 10 years ago, is handing over treasurer duties to the capable care of Caleb Clarke, but is remaining on the fundraising committee.

Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat operations manager Pat Garland introduced everyone and Niamh McCutcheon, chair of the Nenagh RNLI Fundraising Branch, presented Theato with a certificate of thanks on behalf of the RNLI. Previously in 2010 he received a silver medal for voluntary service to the RNLI.

Theato’s good friend Pat Kelly - fellow sailor, lifeboat administrative officer for Lough Derg RNLI and secretary to the Nenagh Fundraising Committee - said that "after Mary and his children, Nick’s great love is his boat Bo-Bo".

On behalf of Lough Derg RNLI, Kelly presented Theato with a picture of Bo-Bo by artist Clare Hartigan. Nick Theato served in the Royal Navy for many years, and following his retirement back to Ireland, sailed on Lough Derg for many more.

He shared a story of his early years in the navy and of an incident at the outset of his career, which secured his respect for the water ever since. He spoke of his love of Lough Derg and its beauty, but added that he was "well aware of its dangers, even for a lifeboat".

Three divers were brought to safety this afternoon after they lost contact with their dive boat and were reported overdue.  The men were brought to safety by volunteer lifeboat crew with Kilmore Quay RNLI.

The divers were over an hour and a half late resurfacing when their dive boat skipper called for help at approximately 1.30pm.  They had been diving at the Conningmore rocks, one mile south of the Saltee Islands in Wexford, when they failed to appear.  Conditions were described as good and the sea state was calm.

The search commenced immediately with Kilmore Quay RNLI being joined by the Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 from Waterford and two local charter vessels.  The men were quickly spotted by the helicopter crew who in turn alerted the lifeboat to their exact location.

The divers had drifted almost three miles away and had lost contact with the dive boat.  The lifeboat crew recovered the three men onto the lifeboat. The first was taken onboard with a Jason's cradle, a piece of lifeboat equipment used to aid recovery of people from the sea. Then the lifeboat crew lowered the stern ramp and threw out a line to pull in the remaining two divers.  They then made their way back to Kilmore Quay harbour.  The men were in good spirits and did not need any medical assistance.

Commenting on the callout Aidan Bates, a volunteer crewmember with Kilmore Quay RNLI said, "This is a beautiful spot for diving and is very popular with dive groups.  The dive boat skipper did exactly the right thing in reporting the men overdue and happily we were able to recover them safely onto the lifeboat. They were certainly relieved to see us coming and we were delighted to be able to bring everyone home safe."

#RNLI – A lifejacket check that has showed up massive failures at previous annual checks is to be repeated by the RNLI tomorrow at Ireland's biggest boating centre. 

Leisure boat users are being encouraged to have their life-jackets checked in Dun Laoghaire this weekend when a team of RNLI Sea Safety volunteers hold a free life-jacket clinic in preparation for the main boating season.

In a 2010 test from 91 jackets tested in Cork and Dublin, 83 failed the free inspection.

Typical faults that are found even in newer life-jackets include loose gas inflation bottles, missing activators, hidden wear and tear as well as worn straps.  Even when worn, faulty lifejackets have been found to be a cause of death in past incidents.

"Life-jacket care is an essential part of preparing for boating activity of any kind," commented Peter Richardson, RNLI Lifeboat Sea Safety Officer.  "Our life-jacket clinic is also an opportunity to arrange a free Sea-Safety Advice On-board visit from one of our experienced advisors."

The free life-jacket clinic will be held at the entrance to Dun Laoghaire Marina from 11am to 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Read more: What's the law on lifejacket use in Ireland?

#RNLIMayDay - Sligo Bay RNLI in Rosses Point is counting down this week to Mayday, the charity’s annual national fundraising campaign in Ireland.

Now in its second year and running nationwide, from this Wednesday 1 to Bank Holiday Monday 6 May the RNLI is asking the public to 'give it some welly' and help its volunteers to continue to save lives at sea.

Encouraging the people of Sligo to support their local lifeboat station this week is one man who experienced first-hand the lifesaving work of the RNLI volunteers based in Rosses Point, when he was rescued in 2011.

"I guess it is always nice to know the orange boat will be coming up the bay looking for you if you get into difficulty," he said, "so remember to call as soon as you know you are in trouble."

With a fun theme in mind, the Mayday appeal is calling on people to lend their support by either purchasing a special RNLI Mayday yellow welly key ring which will be on sale for €2 in various schools in Sligo during the campaign, or by organising their own yellow welly fundraising event.

The yellow welly is an essential piece of the RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew member’s kit. Waterproof with steel-capped toes, the specially designed boots keep the volunteer crew’s feet warm and dry while also protecting them in dangerous conditions on deck.

During gale force winds, rain and ice, keeping a sure footing can literally mean the difference between life and death for volunteers. A pair of yellow wellies for crew members costs €50.

The public can also join in the social media campaign and help the RNLI raise awareness of its lifesaving work this Mayday.

All you have to do is take a photo of yourself holding an RNLI Mayday yellow welly key ring and tweet the phrase ‘I am giving it some welly for the RNLI this Mayday’ including the hashtag #RNLIMAYDAY and mentioning @RNLI.

For more information on how you can get involved or where you can purchase a key ring, log on to rnli.org/mayday

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI recorded its first service by its new inshore lifeboat on Sunday afternoon (21 April). SEE VIDEO BELOW

The North Co Dublin lifeboat station's volunteer crew was requested to launch following a report that a vessel was adrift off Bettystown beach. 

Crew members, alerted by their pagers, launched their new Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson within 10 minutes.

It was quickly established that the owner of the vessel was on shore. With the potential for the personal water craft (PWC) to pose a danger, the decision was made to locate it and return it to the beach.

Once on scene, a volunteer crew member was put on board the PWC and brought the vessel safely to shore.

Speaking following the callout, Skerries RNLI volunteer crew member Emma Wilson said: "The visibility was good today, but it was something quite small we were looking for, so being able to have an extra crew member on board our new lifeboat really made a difference during the search."

#rnli – A joint exercise held in late March on Dublin Bay between the Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard unit, the Irish Air Corps and the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboats has been documented by Dun Laoghaire lifeboat crew.

The scenario simulates a RIB with four people on board that becomes disabled near Dalkey Island.  

Two occupants are suffering from mild hypothermia while two others entered the water and are missing when the operation begins.

#rnli –  Lifeboat crew at Rosslare Harbour RNLI in County Wexford had an early morning call out today after they were called to assist two men in difficulty on a yacht.

The request to launch the all-weather lifeboat came at 3.40am following a report that an 8m motor yacht was in trouble two miles north of Tuskar Rock with two people on board.

The two men who requested assistance had been on passage to Dun Laoghaire when they found themselves in difficulty.

The lifeboat crew under coxswain Eamonn O'Rourke were on scene at 4.25am where they assessed the situation and established a tow line.

The weather at the time was described as good with a force two to three wind.

The lifeboat with seven crew members on board proceeded to tow the stricken vessel back to Rosslare Harbour RNLI where it returned at 7.30am.

Speaking following the call out, Dave Maloney, Rosslare Harbour RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said: 'The request for help early this morning required our volunteer crew to leave their beds which they will always willing and selflessly do to help anyone in need. It is thanks to their dedication and commitment that we can launch the lifeboat at all times. Thankfully, the crew on the stricken yacht were not in any immediate danger and we were happy to tow the yacht safely back to shore'.

#RNLI - Lough Derg RNLI launched twice yesterday (21 April) on consecutive callouts to a vessel grounded at the Corrakeen Islands and a sinking cruiser at the northern end of the lake.

Around 3.45pm yesterday, Valentia Coast Guard requested the launch of the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to assist three people on board their 20ft cruiser after their engine failed and were pushed on to rocks by the Corrakeen Islands in Dromineer Bay.

Helm Eleanor Hooker with Ger Egan and Tom Dunne set out in winds blowing south westerly, force 3 and gusting 5, and the lifeboat was alongside within half an hour of launch.

The two adults and a young child on board were unharmed but extremely anxious. They had dropped anchor to prevent further grounding and breakage.

An RNLI crew member was transferred to their boat to assess for damage and, very quickly - once it was established that the vessel was not holed - set up for a tow, weighed anchor and the lifeboat took them off the rocks and out into safe water.

The lifeboat then towed the boat with her crew (and the RNLI volunteer still on board) to Dromineer Harbour, where RNLI shore crew were waiting to take lines and help.

Lough Derg RNLI crew member Ger Egan advised that said anyone taking their boat afloat after the long winter should "make sure that their engines are fully serviced and make sure to use new fresh fuel".

Later that afternoon the lifeboat launched again to assist two people who had taken to their liferaft as their cruiser was sinking.

The exact location of the 28f cruiser was not certain, but once the lifeboat crew were informed that the cruiser had set out from Terryglass at the northern end of the lake, an half hour earlier they were able to accurately estimate the liferaft’s current location.

At 5.50pm the lifeboat launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Peter Clake and David Moore on board. Winds were south westerly, force 4, gusting 6.

The lifeboat located the cruiser and the liferaft north of Coolbawn, south of Gortmore, on the eastern shore of Lough Derg, and was alongside by 6.15pm, The two people on board were unharmed, but the skipper was greatly distressed.

He had inadvertently veered off course and had glanced off a rock and holed his boat. A passing 18ft speedboat with two people on board also came alongside and gave assistance.

Two lifeboat crew members helped the people from the liferaft and onto the speedboat, which had a canopy and offered shelter from the wind. They gathered the liferaft and its contents into the cruiser cabin and, as the cruiser was rapidly taking water, they weighed anchor so that the lifeboat could beach the vessel and reduce risk of further damage.

Once beached, the lifeboat crew dropped anchor once more, and especially as the winds were forecast to get up in the night. There was no evidence of fuel leakage and arrangements were made for the vessel to assessed and recovered this morning.

The lifeboat and the speedboat, with the two casualties on board and under cover, then made way to Garrykennedy where friends were waiting to look after them.

Eleanor Hooker thanked Cillian Boyle, the helm of the speedboat, for his kind assistance and commended her crew for their "kind consideration of the casualties and their calm professionalism in dealing with the fraught situation".

#RNLI - Aran Islands RNLI in Galway Bay assisted six fishermen from a 24m trawler yesterday Thursday 18 April.

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 4.20pm following a report that a fishing vessel, the Archangel, with six crew on board had got into difficulty and broken down one mile north west of Inishmore.



There was a six-metre swell at the time with a force seven to eight wind.



The lifeboat crew under coxswain John O’Donnell arrived on scene accompanied in the air by Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 - the subject of its own documentary TV series currently showing on RTÉ One - and established a tow line removing the vessel from any immediate danger.



The trawler was then towed back to Rossaveal in Connemara. 



Speaking following the call-out, Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat operations manager Michael Hernon said: "Thanks to the speed and efficiency of the crew in launching the lifeboat, we were able to arrive on scene in good time to assist the fishermen and successfully tow the trawler safely to shore."