RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Wicklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat returning from the call-out on Wednesday 6 September

Wicklow Lifeboat Brings Three Fishermen to Safety After Boat Breaks Down

7th September 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Wicklow RNLI brought three fishermen to safety on Wednesday morning (6 September) after their vessel developed mechanical problems north-east of Wicklow Harbour. Under the command of coxswain Alan Goucher, the all-weather lifeboat Joanna and Henry Williams slipped its mooring at…

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

Aran Islands Lifeboat Responds to Medevac Call From Inis Mór

7th September 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat responded to a medical evacuation request from Inis Mór on Tuesday (5 September). The patient was transferred safely aboard the lifeboat under the supervision of the volunteer crew at the pontoon at Kilronan Harbour and…

Skerries RNLI’s inshore lifeboat returning the casualties to shore on Monday evening 4 September

Skerries Lifeboat Rescues Four After Personal Watercraft Breaks Down

5th September 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Skerries RNLI rescued two men and two women on Monday evening (4 September) after their personal watercraft broke down off Portrane beach. Shortly before 6pm, Dublin Coast Guard tasked the volunteers at Skerries RNLI following receipt of a radio transmission…

Bundoran RNLI Rescues Four People from Rip Currents off Main Beach

5th September 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Four people had to be rescued by the Bundoran RNLI over the weekend after getting caught in rip currents off Main Beach. In two separate incidents, three teenagers and a man were plucked from the water and brought to safety by…

Wicklow RNLI Inshore lifeboat approach the kayakers baulked by the tide

Kayakers Rescued by Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Inshore Crew

4th September 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Two kayakers were rescued by the Wicklow RNLI Inshore lifeboat volunteers on Sunday afternoon, 3rd September, after they got into trouble near Wicklow Head. The Inshore lifeboat was launched shortly after 4 pm after a member of the public walking…

The RNLI Courtmacsherry new Shannon class lifeboat 'Val Adnams'

West Cork Lifeboat Station to Unveil New Shannon Class Lifeboat 'Val Adnams' in Honour of Lifelong RNLI Supporter

2nd September 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

An historic West Cork lifeboat station is set to officially name a new Shannon class lifeboat 'Val Adnams' during a ceremony at 1:45 pm on Saturday, September 9. The guest of honour on the day will be Val Adnams herself,…

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat bringing the pleasure boat to the safety of Ballycotton Pier with an alongside tow

Ballycotton Lifeboat Rescues Skipper When Vessel Suffers Engine Failure

28th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A boat with one person on board fishing off Ballycotton Island got into difficulty on Saturday (26 August) when the vessel suffered engine failure and was in danger of running aground on the rocks. At approximately 2.20pm the skipper of…

Helvick Head RNLI Assists Four in Broken Down RIB off Ballinacourty Lighthouse

28th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Four sailors were rescued by the Helvick Head RNLI on Friday afternoon after they experienced difficulties near Ballinacourty Lighthouse, southeast of Dungarvan. A member of the public reported the incident to the Irish Coast Guard, who then requested the volunteer…

Clifden RNLI’s inshore and all-weather lifeboat crews attend to the yacht with two sailors that got into difficulty off Inishark on Friday morning 25 August

Two Sailors Rescued by Clifden Lifeboat Off Connemara Coast

26th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI were called out on Friday morning (25 August) at 7.30am to assist a stranded yacht off Connemara. The vessel with two sailors on board had come into difficulty to the south-west of Inishark, which…

Newcastle RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Eliza, and all-weather lifeboat, Leonard Kent

Newcastle RNLI and Lifeguards Assist in Rescue of Ill Walker

26th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Newcastle RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Eliza, and all-weather lifeboat, Leonard Kent, launched on Thursday, (24 August 2023) to assist a man who took ill on Murlough beach. At approximately 1.40 pm, Belfast Coastguard requested assistance from Newcastle RNLI. The RNLI’s lifeguards…

Capt Dara Fitzpatrick as pictured in a 1994 issue of Afloat magazine

Irish Stories Feature in RNLI’s ’200 Voices’ Podcast This Weekend

25th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, stories from Ireland will feature in the RNLI’s new 200 Voices podcast series, which explores captivating tales from the history of the charity that saves lives at sea through to the modern day. The first…

An RNLI crew secures a towline to a 44ft yacht with five people on board on passage from the Scilly Isles to Dungarvan after it lost its rudder 10 miles south of Mine Head and was brought to safety by lifeboat crew from Ballycotton RNLI

RNLI Ballycotton Rescues Five from Rudderless Yacht in Challenging Conditions

23rd August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Five people were rescued from a 44ft yacht that lost its rudder while on passage from the Scilly Isles to Dungarvan on Tuesday (August 22nd). The yacht was left powerless to steer its course and was located 10 miles south…

From left: lifeboat helm Eleanor Hooker, RNLI assessor/trainer Seán Ginnelly, crew Oisín Higgins and helm Dom Sharkey

Busy and Productive 2023 So Far for Lifeboat Volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI

22nd August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

It’s been a busy and productive year to date for volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI, with crew passing out on training assessments and new volunteers joining the team — as well as the hugely successful fundraising Lap the Lake charity…

File image of Bundoran RNLI’s inshore lifeboat William Henry Liddington

Bundoran Lifeboat Launches to Two Swimmers Dragged Out to Sea Off Main Beach

21st August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Bundoran RNLI came to the aid of two swimmers on Sunday evening (20 August) after they were dragged out to sea off the Main Beach in the Co Donegal town. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat…

File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat

Portaferry Lifeboat Launches to Assist Sailing Yacht in Difficulty

20th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew from Portaferry RNLI were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard shortly before 5pm on Friday (18 August) to assist a sailing yacht in difficulty. The 28ft yacht with two adults and a child on board had run…

Dun Laoghaire’s inshore lifeboat returns to the harbour after rescuing swimmers at nearby Dalkey Island on Dublin Bay

Swimmers at Dalkey Island Rescued by Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI

20th August 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

A group of swimmers were rescued by Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI this morning near Dalkey Island on Dublin Bay. The crew was on a training exercise in the station’s inshore lifeboat when they were alerted to an incident unfolding at Dalkey…

Start
Prev
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
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