Busy 48 Hours for Bundoran RNLI as Warm Weather Crowds Spark Surge in Callouts
- Pat Nolan
- May 26
- 2 min read
Tuesday 26 May 2026
Volunteer crews at RNLI lifeboat station in Bundoran have experienced an exceptionally busy start to the warm weather period, with four separate taskings in the past 24 hours alone as large crowds descended on local beaches and coastal areas.
Over the past 48 hours, the volunteer crew at Bundoran RNLI responded to a series of incidents ranging from a missing child report to multiple water rescues involving strong coastal currents.
The first incident saw the lifeboat crew alerted to a missing child on a local beach. Thankfully, the child was later found safe and well.
Shortly afterwards, volunteers were paged to assist a stand-up paddleboarder who had encountered difficulties in the water. Before the situation escalated, a member of the public successfully came to the casualty’s aid.
The most serious incident occurred today when two teenagers got into difficulty after being swept by strong currents as far as “The Peak,” a well-known surf break off the Bundoran coastline. The two casualties were safely brought ashore by the RNLI crew, while two additional people were rescued from the water by nearby surfers before emergency services arrived at the scene.
Speaking following the latest rescue, Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Daimon Fergus said the recent spike in callouts underlined the importance of water safety during periods of good weather.
“The warm weather has brought huge numbers of people to the coast, many of whom may not be familiar with local conditions, tides or currents,” he said.
“We would urge everyone to take extra care when entering the water and to always carry a means of calling for help. We would like to remind people that if they see anyone in trouble in the water, they should dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
Mr Fergus also stressed that there are currently no lifeguards on duty at local beaches, as the 2026 seasonal lifeguard service has not yet commenced. He urged beachgoers to remain especially vigilant and to take additional personal responsibility when entering the water or supervising children near the shoreline.
The incidents come as coastal rescue services across Ireland prepare for increased demand during the ongoing spell of warm weather, with emergency responders reminding the public to familiarise themselves with local sea conditions before entering the water.
