RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

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…

RNLI to Trial New Lifeboat Station at Union Hall in Cork

7th November 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has announced that it is to trial a new lifeboat station at Union Hall in south west Cork. At a meeting of the RNLI Board of Trustees the decision was taken to…

Stunning Sea Rescue Photography Exhibition Coming to Dublin

8th November 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – An outdoor exhibition showcasing striking photos of the lifesaving work of the RNLI in Ireland and the UK will be displayed on Grand Canal Square Dublin from Friday 15 November to Monday 2 December. The unique display will…

Enniskillen RNLI Launch After Light Aircraft Ditches in Upper Lough Erne

15th November 2013 RNLI Lifeboats

#lifeboat – Lifeboat crew at Enniskillen RNLI launched this afternoon (Friday 15 November) when a small aircraft reported that it was in trouble and about to ditch in Lough Erne. The lifeboat crew based at Carrybridge on Lough Erne launched…

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Kayaker After He Falls Out of Kayak

9th February 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Volunteer lifeboat crew with Lough Derg RNLI pulled a man from the Nenagh river this afternoon after they had received reports that he had fallen from his kayak and was being pushed down the fast flowing river. Members…

Wexford RNLI Mark Centenary of Fethard Lifeboat Tragedy

18th February 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – On the 20 February 1914 fourteen volunteer lifeboat crew with Fethard RNLI set out to rescue the crew of the Norwegian Schooner the Mexico, which had lost its bearings in terrible weather and had been driven onto rocks…

RNLI Marks Centenary Of Fethard Lifeboat Tragedy

23rd February 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - One hundred years ago, nine volunteer lifeboat crew from Fethard RNLI lost their lives as lifeboat crews rescued 10 people after Norwegian vessel, the Mexico, struck rocks off the Wexford coast. Hundreds of people gathered to attend events…

Lough Ree RNLI Rescue Two Men, Search For Third Continues

20th March 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#rnli – Volunteer lifeboat crew with Lough Ree RNLI were stood down at this evening (Thursday 20 March 2014) following a major search for a man believed missing when a boat carrying three men set off for Carnagh, from Hodson…

‘Give It Some Welly’ For The RNLI This Mayday

24th April 2014 RNLI Lifeboats

#RNLI - The RNLI is calling on the public to ‘give it some welly’ and support Mayday, the charity’s major fundraising campaign in Dublin. People are being asked to buy and wear a yellow welly pin badge or keyring which…

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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