RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Four Fish Farmers in Extreme Weather

12th February 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rescue – Clifden RNLI in county Galway has rescued four fish farmers after they got into difficulty in extreme weather conditions this afternoon. The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat at 1.44pm today (Wednesday…

RNLI 'Shannon' Jet Boat is 50% Faster Than Other Lifeboats

10th February 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – The first of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) newest class of lifeboat, the Shannon, goes on station in the UK this month. The Shannon is the first RNLI all-weather lifeboat to be powered by water jets instead…

Smiles All Round For RNLI In SOS Day Fundraisers

3rd February 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI was delighted to welcome members of the Wicklow Kilmantin Arts Group, who presented a cheque for €500 to the station last Friday (31 January). The money was raised during a recent art auction in Wicklow, and…

Bundoran Lifeboat Station Damaged Hours After Major Fundraiser

3rd February 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

Just hours after the annual Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat dinner dance ended on Friday night, a combination of high tide and heavy swell caused damage to Bundoran Lifeboat Station. Crew began to arrive at the lifeboat station at around 7.20am and…

RNLI In Dispute With Coastguard Over Trawler Emergency

2nd February 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The Irish Independent says that the RNLI wants a meeting with the Irish Coast Guard over an incident off Dublin last weekend that it was not called to attend. According to reports, the coastguard sent its closest rescue…

Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Rescues Fishermen Off Saltee Islands

31st January 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Kilmore Quay RNLI came to the rescue of two fishermen after their boat sank off the Saltee Islands in Co Wexford yesterday afternoon (Thursday 30 January). The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat shortly after…

RNLI Brings More Than 1,800 To Safety Across Ireland In 2013

27th January 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - RNLI lifeboats in the Republic of Ireland launched 1,087 times in 2013 bringing 1,278 people to safety. The figures released by the charity today (Tuesday 28 January) are based on returns of service from all 44 lifeboat stations…

Baltimore Lifeboat Assists Three On Trawler Off Cape Clear

22nd January 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI assisted three crew members on board a 20m fishing trawler which got into difficulty off West Cork on Monday night (20 January). The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by the Irish…

Bundoran Lifeboat Called To Assist Pleasure Craft At Mullaghmore

20th January 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The crew of Bundoran RNLI were tasked yesterday afternoon (19 January) for their first call out of 2014, to an 18ft pleasure craft with two people on board which suffered engine failure off Mullaghmore Head in Co Sligo.…

Baltimore Lifeboat In Medical Evacuation From Skerkin Island

6th January 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - While most of the country was taking refuge from storm-force winds today (6 January), the volunteer lifeboat crew from Baltimore RNLI was called upon to assist in a medical evacuation from Sherkin Island in West Cork. The call…

RNLI Lifeboat in Search for Man off County Down Coast

3rd January 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Both Newcastle RNLI's inshore and all weather lifeboats were launched in rough weather at 9am this morning following reports that a man had entered the sea after his dog and had got into difficulty. However the search was…

Wicklow Lifeboat's Annual Service of Remembrance

2nd January 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's lifeboat crew held their annual Service of Remembrance on New Year’s Day yesterday. The ceremony remembers past deceased lifeboat volunteers and all associated with the sea from Wicklow, and began with a short religious prayer conducted…

Kilmore Quay Lifeboat In Christmas Day Surfer Rescue

31st December 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Kilmore Quay RNLI volunteers had a Christmas Day call-out last week when a surfer got into difficulties just before 4pm. The man had been surfing at the Burrow Shore off the Memorial Garden to the west of the…

Christmas Eve RNLI Lifeboat Ceremony Remembers Lives Lost off Dun Laoghaire

18th December 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – The crew of the RNLI lifeboat station at Dun Laoghaire will hold their annual ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers that died on service in 1895 on Christmas Eve as well as all those who lost their lives…

Holyhead Lifeboat's Decade Of Lifesaving

15th December 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Holyhead RNLI volunteers are coming together to mark the 10th anniversary of their all-weather lifeboat that safeguards waters familiar to many an Irish ferry passenger. To celebrate the milestone, the volunteer RNLI crew have commissioned a decorative bell…

Bushmills Anglers Raise Funds For Portrush Lifeboat

13th December 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Portrush RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew received a cheque for £1,052 (€1,249) from Bushmills District and Angling Club recently. The club, which collects donations throughout the year or the lifesaving charity, made the presentation to Portrush lifeboat operations manager…

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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