Dún Laoghaire RNLI Volunteers Respond to Two Incidents in Busy Saturday Evening
- Pat Nolan
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Sunday 21 June 2026
DÚN LAOGHAIRE, Co. Dublin – Volunteers with Dún Laoghaire RNLI launched twice on Saturday evening (20 June), responding to separate incidents in Killiney Bay and Dublin Bay within a matter of hours.
The station's inshore lifeboat Joval was first tasked at 5:12pm following reports of four children aboard an inflatable dinghy in Killiney Bay.
Volunteer crew members assembled at the lifeboat station and launched the D-class lifeboat after the Coast Guard received reports of the children waving paddles from the inflatable craft. However, shortly after launching, the crew was stood down when the Coast Guard confirmed that the group had made it safely ashore.
Following the call-out, volunteers returned to station where the lifeboat was washed down and prepared for service once again.
The crew for the first launch consisted of helm Gary Hayes, crew members Nathan Burke and Dan Phillips, while birthday celebrant Ciarán Deane and Kevin Byrne, acting as Launching Authority, provided shore support.
Just over two hours later, at 7:38pm, pagers sounded for a second time when Dublin Coast Guard tasked the lifeboat to assist two sailors aboard a small angling boat that had issued a Mayday call after being blown towards rocks near Poolbeg Lighthouse.
Once again, volunteers quickly assembled and launched Joval. The crew comprised helm Paul Cummins, Gary Hayes, and James Traynor, with Nathan Burke and Kevin Byrne serving as shore crew.
While the lifeboat was en route, RNLI volunteers aboard a nearby rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and a Dublin Port pilot boat reached the casualty vessel and assisted the sailors. The pilot boat successfully towed the stricken angling boat clear of the rocks, after which the vessel regained power.
Upon arrival on scene, Dún Laoghaire RNLI volunteers escorted the boat and its occupants safely to Poolbeg Marina.
Following the successful conclusion of the incident, the crew returned to station and readied the lifeboat for further service ahead of Father's Day and what is expected to be a period of favourable weather.
Dún Laoghaire Lifeboat Press Officer Aoife Ward praised the commitment of the station's volunteers and took the opportunity to recognise those celebrating Father's Day.
"I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the many fathers among Dún Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat station volunteers and wish them a very happy Father's Day," she said.
The two call-outs serve as a timely reminder for all water users to carry appropriate safety equipment, monitor weather and sea conditions, and seek assistance early should difficulties arise.
