RNLI Lifeboat News From Ireland

Baltimore RNLI inshore lifeboat prepares to launch

Baltimore RNLI Assists Sailors on a Yacht Aground on the Ilen River in West Cork

3rd June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI were called out this morning (Saturday, 3 June) to assist sailors after their yacht ran aground on the Ilen River in West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 9.18 am, following a request from…

Castletownbere RNLI all weather lifeboat

Castletownbere RNLI Involved in Rescue of 13 People After 33m Fishing Trawler Runs Gground off Dursey Island

2nd June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Castletownbere RNLI in conjunction with the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 115 helicopter crew from Shannon have rescued 13 people this evening after their 33m fishing trawler ran aground onto rocks off Dursey Island and started to list and roll. The…

Baltimore RNLI all-weather lifeboat at the Fastnet Rock off the West Cork coast

Tickets on Sale for Baltimore RNLI’s 'Ladies Boutique Lunch' in West Cork

2nd June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI will host its first Ladies Boutique Lunch this August in West Cork. The fundraising event will see proceeds raised go towards the charity that saves lives at sea. The lunch will take place in Inisbeg Estate in Baltimore…

Hundreds of swimmers took on the challenge of the Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim at Waterford Harbour

Dunmore East RNLI Lifeboat's Open Water Swim Makes a Splash

1st June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Hundreds of swimmers ranging from beginners to experienced athletes, fearlessly took on the challenge of the Dunmore East RNLI Open Water Swim last Sunday (28 May). The event garnered an impressive response with 360 registered swimmers, all driven by a…

Baltimore RNLI inshore lifeboat launched to rescue a kayaker in the middle of Baltimore Harbour at The Perch near Lousy Rocks

Baltimore RNLI Rescues Kayaker Drifting Towards Rocks off Sherkin Island

1st June 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Baltimore RNLI in West Cork rescued a kayaker who got into difficulty in freshening winds this afternoon and was drifting backwards towards rocks off Sherkin Island. The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to launch their inshore…

File image of Rosslare Harbour RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat in rough seas

Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat Launches to Assist Three on Stricken Sailing Yacht

31st May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Rosslare Harbour RNLI launched to the assistance of a 44ft sailing yacht with three people aboard on Tuesday (30 May) after it developed mechanical problems. The all-weather lifeboat was requested by the Irish Coast Guard at 2.27pm and within half…

Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat Coxswain John O’Donnell who has retired

Aran Islands RNLI Coxswain Retires After 21 Years Saving Lives at Sea

31st May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Long serving RNLI lifeboat Coxswain John O’Donnell retired today (Wednesday, 31 May) after 21 years of saving lives at sea on the west coast of Ireland. Born and raised on Inis Mór on the Aran Islands, John has been Coxswain…

A broken down motorboat and Howth Inshore Lifeboat at Howth harbour on Sunday, 28 May

Six People Rescued by Howth RNLI in Separate Incidents Over Weekend of Good Weather

28th May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer lifeboat crew of Howth RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat to two separate incidents this weekend to boats which had suffered engine failure. On Friday night, shortly after 21:30, the lifeboat was launched to reports of a sailing yacht…

Clifden RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat St Christopher pictured at sunset

Back-to-Back Shouts for Clifden Lifeboats on Busy Friday Evening

27th May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI in Co Galway towed a broken-down boat with two people on board to safety yesterday evening and were tasked again at midnight to a medevac from the island of Inishbofin. At 6.45pm on Friday…

Kilmore Quay RNLI crew members Michelle Hinchy and Trevor Devereux

Kilmore Quay RNLI Crew Members Tie the Knot

26th May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilmore Quay RNLI crew members Michelle Hinchy and Trevor Devereux took a rare day off from the pager yesterday for a special reason. The couple switched their lifejackets and yellow wellies for wedding day finery to marry in a beautiful…

Bangor RNLI lifeboat towed the yacht to Bangor Marina

Bangor RNLI Lifeboat Rescues Two Men on Broken Down 8m Yacht on Ballyholme Bay

23rd May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Bangor RNLI lifeboat came to the aid of two people on Sunday after their 8m yacht broke down in Ballyholme Bay on Belfast Lough. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard at 1.21 pm…

Fethard RNLI Rescues Two Sailors After 20ft Boat Breaks Down North of Templetown Bay

22nd May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Fethard RNLI came to the aid of two people on Saturday afternoon (20 May) after their 20ft boat broke down. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at approximately 2.45…

The Kilmore Quay all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney, tows a rigid inflatable boat (R.I.B.) with five people on board that had lost steering

Kilmore Quay RNLI Tasked Twice Over the Weekend

22nd May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilmore Quay RNLI responded to two separate requests from the Irish Coast Guard for assistance with pleasure craft in the vicinity of the Saltee Islands over the weekend. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat…

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury

Ballycotton RNLI Rescues 12 People from Passenger Boat with Engine Trouble off Ballycotton Lighthouse

19th May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Two crew members and its group of ten passengers were rescued today (Friday 19 May) after the boat they were travelling in developed engine failure east of Ballycotton lighthouse. Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury was requested to launch…

Galway RNLI volunteer crew on inshore lifeboat ‘Binny’, coming alongside a cruiser in Galway Bay as part of a trauma simulation exercise

Galway RNLI Trauma Simulation Exercise on Galway Bay

19th May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

The Galway Bay RNLI volunteer crew carried out a training exercise with the University of Galway Clinical Simulation and Interprofessional Education Facility this week. The exercise took place on a calm evening and involved the lifeboat crew being called to…

Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Aid Injured Fisherman in Late Night Call

19th May 2023 RNLI Lifeboats

Kilmore Quay RNLI last night came to the aid of an injured fisherman on board a fishing vessel 33 nautical miles south of Kilmore Quay. The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney by the…

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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