October 2026

Lough Ree RNLI volunteers responded to two separate incidents in less than 24 hours, including a search for a suspected person in the water in Athlone town during the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Irish Coast Guard has launched its first dedicated national website, providing a new online resource for coastal and water safety advice, recruitment information and news from the service.

Ballyglass RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was tasked at 6.37 pm on Monday, 12 October, following a report of a motor boat experiencing engine difficulties approximately half a mile south of Ballyglass Pier.

The RNLI is modernising its lifeboat fleet to meet the changing demands of lifesaving around Ireland and the UK. As part of its 2040 Lifeboat Fleet Strategy, Irish stations will see a phased introduction of newer, more capable lifeboats, including the new Coastal Lifeboat, designed to enhance rescue capability, improve casualty recovery and help keep volunteer crews safe. While the fleet continues to evolve, the RNLI’s mission remains unchanged: to save every one.

The new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Davdot has been officially named at a special ceremony and service of dedication at Lough Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Station this afternoon (Saturday 10 October), marking a significant milestone in the station’s history.

President Catherine Connolly unveils commemorative plaque at Ireland’s oldest established RNLI lifeboat station.

Carrybridge RNLI volunteers responded to two separate incidents on Saturday 3 October, assisting a grounded vessel before later helping a person who had fallen into the water close to the lifeboat station.

A routine visit to photograph the work of Courtmacsherry RNLI volunteers took an unexpected turn on Saturday when internationally acclaimed lifeboat photographer Nigel Millard found himself swapping his camera for a place aboard the station’s lifeboat.

A major multi-agency search and rescue training exercise was held on Lough Corrib on Saturday 3 October, bringing together Civil Defence teams from across the west and midlands, Coast Guard personnel, air support and local search and rescue volunteers.

Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was launched on Sunday afternoon, 4 October, to assist with the medical evacuation of a woman who had been injured in a fall on Garinish Island, near Glengarriff in West Cork.

Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, The Ken Blair, was launched by the Coastguard on Sunday afternoon following reports of two kayakers in difficulty off the White Rocks, Portrush.

Lough Swilly RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat on Saturday afternoon to assist two people aboard a small inflatable dinghy after its electric motor lost propulsion.

Lough Corrib, Co. Galway, Saturday, 3 October 2026 Members of the public around Lough Corrib and the Cong area may notice an increased presence of emergency and search and rescue resources this Saturday as Galway Civil Defence hosts a planned Search & Rescue training exercise.

Portrush RNLI’s All-weather Lifeboat was launched early this morning after a fishing vessel carrying five people ran aground off Inishowen.