Lough Neagh Rescue

01/06/2026

Callout @17.04 1/6/26

31/05/2026

🚨 Busy Week for Our Volunteer Lifeboat Crews 🚨

At 16:43 hrs on Thursday 28th May, our volunteer lifeboat crews were tasked to another callout to assist a vessel that had run aground on Owen Roe Island, outside Kinnego Bay, in very windy conditions.

Thankfully, everyone on board was safe. The casualty vessel was successfully towed back to Kinnego Marina.

This marks a busy week for our volunteer crews across Kinnego, Ardboe and Antrim stations, who responded to three separate callouts:

🔹 Wednesday 27th May – A speedboat suffered engine failure at Six Mile Water, Antrim. The vessel and those on board were safely assisted back to shore.

🔹 Tuesday 26th May – A vessel with three people on board ran aground in strong winds near Kinnego Marina and was towed safely back to the marina.

A huge thank you to all our volunteer crew members who give up their free time to train, remain callout ready, and respond when needed while balancing work and family commitments.

⚠️ Safety Reminder

✅ Make sure everyone on board wears a lifejacket.
✅ Carry a working radio and phone.
✅ Bring warm clothing – conditions can change quickly.
✅ Check the weather, plan ahead, and be prepared for the unexpected.

30/05/2026

Callout – Wednesday 27 May 2026

At 18:41 on Wednesday 27 May 2026, LNR was tasked by Belfast Coastguard to reports of a speedboat that had suffered mechanical failure in the vicinity of Sixmilewater, Antrim.

Crew responded immediately and quickly located the vessel, which was carrying four persons. Following an assessment of the situation, a towline was established and the casualty vessel was safely towed to the jetty at Antrim Marina.

With the vessel and its occupants brought safely ashore, lifeboats returned to station. All boats were subsequently refuelled, washed down, and prepared for any further service requirements.

29/05/2026

Lough Neagh Rescue would like to take this opportunity to thank Portwest Portwest Ireland for their generous donation of base layer clothing to our crew. These items will help keep our team warm, comfortable, and protected while carrying out training exercises and responding to emergency callouts.

Your support is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference to the safety and wellbeing of our volunteers.

❤️

28/05/2026

Tasked @ 16:43 28/05/26

27/05/2026

Crews tasked @18:42 27/05/26

16/05/2026

Life jacket inspection event:

Great example of inter-agency collaboration today at LNR’s Kinnego Lifeboat Station as our crew worked alongside Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, RNLI and Lough Neagh Coastguard Rescue Team on this important water safety initiative.

We were especially delighted to welcome Finn Mullan from the RNLI Bundoran Lifeboat Station (and who was also a past crew member with Lough Neagh Rescue and son of one of our founders, Billy Mullan).

The event gave members of the public the opportunity to have their life jackets inspected to ensure they are fit for purpose ahead of the boating season, while also gaining important water safety advice.

Remember:
✅ Check your life jacket regularly for damage or wear
✅ Ensure gas cylinders are in date and clips are secure
✅ Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
✅ Always wear your life jacket near or on the water

A well-maintained life jacket could save your life. Stay safe and enjoy the season ahead! 🚤

15/05/2026

🛟 Lough Neagh Rescue is delighted to host a FREE Lifejacket Checking Event on Saturday 16 May, 10am–1pm at Kinnego Lifeboat Station, Kinnego Marina, BT66 6NJ, in partnership with ABC Council, the RNLI, and Lough Neagh Coastguard Team.

Come along to meet the crew, learn more about water safety, and get your lifejacket checked ahead of the boating season. 🚤🌊

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Qhr5qX6Ye/?mibextid=wwXIfr

‼️ Is your lifejacket safe? 🛟

Bring along your lifejacket to a free lifejacket clinic this Saturday, 16 May, from 10am – 1pm! 🦺

Come to Lough Neagh Rescue's session at Kinnego Lifeboat Station and learn useful tips on how to choose, fit and maintain your lifejacket and receive free boating and water safety advice from our water safety volunteers. 🛟🌊⛵

Find more water safety advice at rnli.org/safety

13/05/2026

Today, we lay to rest Malachy Ryan, one of the founding members of our Ardboe station, and a man whose contribution to Lough Neagh Rescue will never be forgotten.

Malachy was there from the very beginning. Through his vision, hard work, and dedication to helping others, he helped build the foundations of what Lough Neagh Rescue stands for today. His commitment to the community, his support for the station, and his willingness to give his time for others left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

More than his contribution to the service, Malachy will be remembered as a kind, dependable, and highly respected man who cared deeply for the people around him. His legacy within Lough Neagh Rescue and the wider community will continue for many years to come.

Today, our thoughts are with the Ryan family, friends, and all those mourning his loss. On behalf of all our volunteers and crew members, past and present, we extend our deepest and most sincere condolences.

Rest easy, Malachy.
Your watch is over, but your legacy lives on. 💙

12/05/2026

💙 A Special Visit to Kinnego Lifeboat Station 💙

It was a real privilege to welcome former volunteer crew member and founding member Brendan Prunty (Crew Number 4) back to Kinnego Lifeboat Station last week.

Brendan served Lough Neagh Rescue for almost 20 years, dedicating his time to helping protect the local community on Lough Neagh and surrounding waterways.

His visit also marked a special moment as one of our newest volunteer crew members, Barry, officially takes on Crew Number 4 after completing his intensive training to qualify as active lifeboat crew.

It was a fantastic opportunity for the current crew to hear about the history of Lough Neagh Rescue, past rescues, and the many lives our volunteers have saved over the years, dropping everything to respond when the call comes.

We celebrate the contributions of past and present volunteers, and all those currently in training, across our Kinnego, Ardboe, and Antrim stations, for their continued commitment to serving their communities.