RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Hoax call at New Quay, Wales

8th August 2009 RNLI Lifeboats

Milford Haven Coastguard launched a major search for two anglers in the early hours of Saturday morning but it was discovered to be a hoax. As the search continued it became clear that the boat was not in the location…

Boys saved from Castlerock Caves

6th August 2009 RNLI Lifeboats

Two boys aged 13 and 14 were rescued last night (Wednesday 5th August) after becoming stuck in a cave near Castlerock, Co. Londonderry, reports the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency. Coast Guard Rescue Teams from Castlerock and Ballycastle worked alongside…

Irish Coast Guard rescue off Howth Head

4th August 2009 RNLI Lifeboats

A small powerboat capsized on Dublin Bay on the morning of 3rd August, leaving two people to be winched to safety twenty minutes after the incident by the Irish Coast Guard helicopter. The two had a lucky escape after issuing…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat requested to launch on Rossmore Bay

1st August 2009 RNLI Lifeboats

At 19.01hrs last night Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist two persons reported in the water following the capsize of their small yacht, near to Dromineer Bay. Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat launched following a request from Valentia Coast Guard,…

Six RNLI Lifeboats Take Part in Major Maritime Exercise off Northern Ireland Coast

5th August 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Three RNLI lifeboats from Northern Ireland and three from the Isle of Man took part in a major maritime exercise fifteen miles off the coast of Northern Ireland on Saturday (3 August 2013) to test the effectiveness and…

Howth RNLI Lifeboat Busy With Three Callouts in 24 hours

11th August 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – The volunteer lifeboat crew with Howth RNLI were kept busy this weekend when they responded to three callouts in 24 hours and helped bring 11 people to safety. The first callout came at 2.46pm yesterday (Saturday 10 August)…

Three Anglers Rescued After Boat Capsizes off Waterford coast

11th August 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Tramore RNLI responded to a callout this afternoon at 1.43pm when a six metre half decker boat capsized with four men onboard halfway between Brownstown Head and Rhinashark off the Waterford coast. One man managed…

Skerries RNLI Atlantic 85 Lifeboat to be Named

29th August 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – A new Atlantic 85 lifeboat for Skerries RNLI is to be officially named Louis Simson during a ceremony at the lifeboat station in the north county Dublin coastal town at 2pm on Saturday 7 September. The lifeboat which…

Courtmacsherry RNLI Volunteer Assists Call-Out Off English Coast

30th August 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A volunteer crew member from Courtmacsherry RNLI found himself involved in a lifeboat call out miles from home this week when he went to the assistance of yacht involved in a collision off Cumbria yesterday (29 August). Barrow RNLI launched…

Wicklow RNLI Helps Charity Reach Almost 1.5 Million People via Social Media

5th September 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Wicklow RNLI have become the first Irish lifeboat station to have a rescue featured in the charity's #SaveWave campaign. Some of this summer's most dramatic rescue stories featuring volunteer lifeboat crews have been shared with nearly one and…

Dedication of Skerries Atlantic RNLI Lifeboat

6th September 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – A new Atlantic 85 lifeboat for Skerries RNLI is to be officially named Louis Simson during a ceremony at the lifeboat station in the north county Dublin coastal town at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday 7 September. The lifeboat which…

RNLI Achill Island's 17 hour Callout to Fishing Vessel in Trouble off Mayo Coast

20th September 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Achill Island RNLI returned home in the early hours of this morning (Friday 20 September) after a marathon callout to a fishing vessel 54 miles west of Achill Island off the Mayo coast. The lifeboat…

RNLI Rescue Figures Show Massive Increase in Irish Lifeboat Summer Launches

23rd September 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI – RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews in Ireland were kept busy this summer, with the charity's lifeboats launching 571 times during the months of June, July and August. The figure represents an increase of 43 per cent on the previous…

Fisherman Rescued By RNLI Crew Meets His Rescuers - And Owes His Life To Lifejacket Initiative

9th October 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - A fisherman whose boat sank in minutes has thanked several organisations who implemented and trained him on using a lifejacket for saving his life. Samuel Cully, a fisherman from Portavogie, was in the water for 45 minutes after…

'Reindeer Runs' Return To Raise Funds For Irish Lifeboats

1st November 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The hugely popular RNLI Reindeer Runs have returned to raise funds for the charity that saves lives at sea. The event has fast become a favourite with families, runners and walkers, many of whom dress up in antlers…

Clifden RNLI Crewman Shares Lifesaving Skills On Danish Lifeboat

4th November 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - Clifden RNLI volunteer crewmember James 'Digger' Mullen was selected from thousands of RNLI volunteers to represent the charity last month on a European Lifeboat Crew Exchange in Denmark. Lifeboat crew from seven European countries were invited on a…

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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