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RNLI

Over 1,200 people were saved by the RNLI last year - these were the five busiest stations

Almost half of the recorded launches were carried out in darkness.

THE RNLI VOLUNTEER lifeboat crews launched 1,098 times last year, bringing 1,244 people to safety.

The charity’s volunteer lifeboat crew are on call in all weathers at the 45 lifeboat stations around the Irish coast and on inland waters.

Howth lifeboat station in Dublin was the busiest on the coast with 60 launches and 58 people assisted.

The next busiest was Clifden RNLI in Galway, they launched 49 times and brought 20 people to safety.

Meanwhile, Dun Laoghaire RNLI launched their two lifeboats 48 times and assisted 50 people.

The inland RNLI lifeboat station at Lough Ree in Athlone also had a very busy year recording the highest number of people assisted. The inshore lifeboat was launched 47 times and helped 130 people to safety on the huge lough.

In Munster, Crosshaven RNLI saw considerable activity with 42 launches and 50 people brought to safety.

Tough conditions 

Of the recorded launches, 416 were carried out in darkness.

The type of incidents the charity’s lifeboat crew responded to can range from danger of drowning (66) to searches for missing people (54), grounded or stranded vessels (126) or people thought to be in danger or overdue (118).

There were also a number of callouts to animal casualties last year, with 10 lifeboat stations launched to incidents involving animals.

They included a dolphin in Ballycotton, a horse swept into the river at Lough Derg, eight cows who became stranded and ended up in the sea off Kinsale, and seven dogs around the coast who were reunited with their grateful owners.

Read: Video: Horse rescued after falling into river and being swept downstream>

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16 Comments
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    Mute Stephen Duggan
    Favourite Stephen Duggan
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    Jan 27th 2016, 6:14 AM

    The bravest of the brave, the unsung heroes for many centuries now.

    197
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    Mute Swagman_10
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    Jan 27th 2016, 7:31 AM

    RNLI are my family’s charity of choice (we’re not sea-going people). They embody everything that’s best in the human spirit – selflessness, bravery, charity, strength, humanity. I’ve heard people before saying “disgraceful they still use the Royal..”. No – it’s downright disgraceful we as a State don’t pay a single penny for this life saving service. Shameful. Great men and women and long may they succeed.

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    Mute Jamie Brackett
    Favourite Jamie Brackett
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    Jan 27th 2016, 6:52 AM

    Volunteering to drop everything and save others..They are amazing people. Well done RNLI and the Coast Guard too!

    110
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    Mute James Darcy
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    Jan 27th 2016, 7:01 AM

    Shout out to the guys in Waterford too. Due to it being a surfing spot they have often been out looking for surfers who have been spotted in rough waters often just precautionary until they can account for all the local surfers.

    49
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    Mute G.W.
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    Jan 27th 2016, 8:19 AM

    Don’t confuse your bigoted, confused & probably uneducated opinions with an amazing volunteer organisation which has been saving peoples lives for many many years, who cares about the name! Just because there is a reference to the UK, you jump on the UK bashing bus. Get a life.

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    Mute Peter Hargan
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    Jan 27th 2016, 7:57 AM

    Green thumb X1000 to you swagman

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    Mute Simon Moore
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    Jan 27th 2016, 7:55 AM

    absolute heros!

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    Mute Gav Wilde
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    Jan 27th 2016, 7:08 AM

    Fair play to them. Any chance of a name change though?

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    Mute Reg
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    Jan 27th 2016, 7:09 AM

    Why, just to suit your sensitivities?

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    Mute Gary Heslin
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    Jan 27th 2016, 7:23 AM

    Hi Gail as a crew member just to let you know most of the funding comes from the UK. Not a brown cent is given by the Irish government. Shame on them.

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    Mute Reg
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    Jan 27th 2016, 7:45 AM

    And what other name changes would you like Gav, RDS, Royal Dublin GC? Why stop at the RNLI? Pol Pot could of learned someting from you!

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    Mute Treasa Lynch
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    Jan 27th 2016, 8:01 AM

    Probably not Gav,. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a UK based organisation. I’m not sure why you think they should change their name. Also know that what they do is made possible by the donations given by people. It’s not a state funded organisation. Do you donate to them?

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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Jan 27th 2016, 9:17 AM

    Do you have a single valid reason to support a name change other than you dont like having the word royal in it?

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    Mute Mark D'Arcy
    Favourite Mark D'Arcy
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    Jan 27th 2016, 2:06 PM

    A number of years ago my friends and I were rescued in the Irish Sea. These men and women are real heroes!!

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Jan 27th 2016, 8:37 PM

    The best charity organisation one can give to. Dedicated to saving lives. Nothing more,nothing less.

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    Mute Mark D'Arcy
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    Jan 27th 2016, 2:10 PM

    My friends and I were rescued in the Irish Sea a few years ago. The conditions were treacherous. The men and women who work in the RNLI are real heroes!

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