Ballycotton RNLI

26/08/2026

We are recruiting🫡

Please follow link below for more details and help make a difference in your community 🛟

The RNLI’s Lifeboat Station in Ballycotton Lifeboat Station is looking for a volunteer to join the existing team in the role of Launch Authority.

25/08/2026

21/08/2026

Ballycotton RNLI rescues three people from yacht off Roches Point

Ballycotton RNLI has rescued three people after a 30ft yacht got into difficulty off Roches Point last night (Thursday 20 August).

The all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 9.50pm by Valentia Coast Guard following a call for assistance from the crew of the yacht which had encountered steering difficulties approximately 1.5 miles south of Roches Point.

Andy Browne, Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, immediately authorised the launch of the lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury and the lifeboat was underway from Ballycotton pier within 10 minutes.
Coxswain Eolan Walsh was joined on the call out by mechanic Alan Cott, navigator Sile Scanlon and crew members Eolan Breathnach, Adrian Erangey, Stephen Sloane and Claire McCarthy.

Conditions on departure were north-westerly Force 4–5 winds with moderate visibility.

The lifeboat crew arrived on scene at 10.37pm and made contact with the yacht’s crew, who were all safe and wearing lifejackets. Following an assessment of the situation and given the fact the yacht could not make any safe onward progress and given its proximity to the coastline and a risk that it may drift nearer to shore, a decision was made that the safest course of action was to establish a tow line and bring the sailors safely to Crosshaven. Crosshaven Coast Guard personnel and the pier manager were on standby at the pontoon to assist in bringing the yacht safely alongside.

The Ballycotton lifeboat returned to station at 1.30am where it was refuelled and back on service by 1.45am.
Speaking following the call out, Andy Browne, Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘This was a good example of the importance of contacting the Coast Guard at the first sign of difficulty. The yacht’s crew acted appropriately by raising the alarm, and thankfully all three people were safe and wearing lifejackets when our lifeboat arrived.
‘We would remind all those going to sea to ensure that their vessel is properly maintained and that safety equipment is checked before departure. It is also important to have a reliable means of communication on board and to know how to raise the alarm if something goes wrong.

‘Mechanical or steering problems can quickly become serious at sea, particularly in challenging weather conditions. If you find yourself in difficulty, don’t delay in seeking assistance. Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

15/08/2026

14/08/2026

💙 Thank you to the Churchtown South Community Hall Committee for their very generous donation to Ballycotton RNLI, raised through their annual 4 Mile Road Race. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

It’s wonderful to see a community coming together each year to organise such a fantastic event, and we are especially grateful that, as a coastal community, they chose to support their local lifeboat station and the vital work of the RNLI. 🚤🌊

Your generosity and continued support mean so much to our crew and volunteers and help us to continue our mission of saving lives at sea.

A heartfelt thank you to the committee, everyone who took part in the race, the volunteers who helped make the event happen, and the wider Churchtown South community for your incredible support. 👏💙

Thank you for helping us keep our community and our coastline safer. 🛟

4MileRoadRace SavingLivesAtSea

12/08/2026

Ballycotton RNLI Assists Multi-Agency Rescue Following Suspected Shark Bite Off Ardmore

Ballycotton RNLI was involved in a multi-agency rescue operation yesterday, Tuesday 11 August, following a report of a person suffering a shark bite while on board a pleasure craft off the Waterford coast.

At 4.16pm, Ballycotton RNLI was requested to launch by Dublin Coast Guard to assist a 5-metre pleasure craft with five people on board, approximately four miles off Ram Head, Ardmore.

The call formed part of a coordinated response involving Ballycotton RNLI, Youghal RNLI and Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 117.

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather Trent-class lifeboat,The Austin Lidbury, was launched at 4.30pm. With calm sea conditions and good visibility, the lifeboat arrived on scene at approximately 5.10pm. Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 were already at the casualty vessel.

Both lifeboats remained on standby while the casualty was winched from the vessel by Rescue 117 and transferred for emergency evacuation to Cork University Hospital.

The remaining members of the group did not require assistance, and the casualty vessel subsequently returned safely to Dungarvan. Both lifeboats were then stood down.

Ballycotton RNLI returned to harbour at approximately 6.15pm, where the lifeboat was refuelled before the volunteer crew continued with their scheduled weekly training session.

Coxswain on duty, Eolan Walsh, said: “This was a well-coordinated multi-agency response, with Ballycotton RNLI, Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 working together to ensure that the casualty received urgent medical assistance as quickly and safely as possible. Our crew were pleased to be able to support the operation and remain on scene while the casualty was transferred for emergency treatment and we wish the casualty a full recovery.
“Incidents such as this are a reminder that conditions at sea can change quickly and that anyone heading offshore should make safety a priority. Ensure your vessel is suitable for the conditions, wear a properly fitted lifejacket or personal flotation device, carry a reliable means of communication, and make sure someone ashore knows your plans. If you get into difficulty at sea, call for help early — contacting the Coast Guard at 999 or 112 can make all the difference.”

The Ballycotton RNLI crew involved in the rescue were Eolan Walsh (Coxswain), Alan Cott (Mechanic), Conor Philpott (Navigator), Eolan Breathnach, Áine Flynn, Stephen Sloane and Ronan Lynch.

📸stock photo

07/08/2026

Ballycotton RNLI rescues four crew from fishing boat taking on water south of Ballycotton Island

Ballycotton RNLI rescued four crew members from a 14-metre fishing vessel that began taking on water approximately three miles south of Ballycotton Island this afternoon.

At 4.06pm today, Ballycotton RNLI was requested to launch by Valentia Coastguard as part of a multi-agency rescue operation involving Ballycotton Coastguard and Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 115.

The request followed an urgent call for assistance from the crew of the fishing vessel, which had begun taking on water approximately three miles south of Ballycotton Island.

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather Trent-class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury, was launched at 4.16pm. Favourable conditions, with a slight south-westerly wind of Force 1–2 and excellent visibility, enabled the lifeboat to make good time to the casualty vessel.

On arrival, the lifeboat crew assessed the situation and Deputy Coxswain Eolan Breathnach was able to bring The Austin Lidbury alongside the fishing vessel. Volunteer crew member Mike Kenneally then boarded the fishing boat as part of a controlled, slow-speed transfer, carrying RNLI emergency salvage pumping equipment.

Rescue 115 also arrived on scene and remained on standby to assist if required.

The fishing crew had already deployed their emergency life raft, and the RNLI crew member was directed below deck to assess the flooding. He quickly set up the salvage pump, which, working alongside the vessel’s own bilge pumps, reduced the water levels inside the fishing boat to a manageable level.

Given the vessel’s proximity to Ballycotton Harbour, a decision was made to es**rt it back to harbour under its own power.

During the transfer of the salvage pump, one of the fishing crew slipped and sustained an injury. The incident was relayed to Ballycotton Coastguard, who were standing by at Ballycotton Pier. They contacted the local emergency services, and an ambulance was dispatched to meet the vessel on its return.

The casualty vessel and RNLI lifeboat returned to Ballycotton Harbour at 5.25pm. The fishing boat was secured alongside, and the injured fisherman was transferred ashore for medical attention.

Andy Browne, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Ballycotton RNLI, said:
“We are grateful to the number of crew who made themselves available and acted quickly to prevent this critical incident from deteriorating further.”

Coxswain Eolan Breathnach was joined on the callout by volunteer crew members Eolan Walsh (Mechanic), Adrian Erangey, Stephen Sloane and Mike Kenneally.

📸 Áine Flynn

01/08/2026

What a fantastic night at the Ballycotton RNLI Pub Quiz! 🎉

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and supported the event. Your generosity, enthusiasm and community spirit made it a tremendous success, with teams enjoying a fun-filled evening while raising vital funds to help save lives at sea.

A special word of thanks to all of our sponsors who kindly donated the fantastic spot prizes, to Mike, Brid and all the wonderful staff at The Schooner for hosting us and looking after everyone so well throughout the evening.

A massive thank you also goes to Shane Walsh and the Ballycotton RNLI Fundraising Team for organising such a brilliant event. Shane kept everyone entertained as MC and certainly put teams through their paces with some very creative—and uniquely RNLI-themed—questions!

Congratulations to our winning team of Una, Fionuala, Caroline and Eimear, who claimed first prize after a closely fought contest. 👏 There were plenty of serious faces and deep concentration as teams searched for the right answers!

Thank you once again to everyone who supported the quiz. Every euro raised helps our volunteer crews continue their lifesaving work, and we couldn’t do it without the incredible support of our community. 💙🚤

25/07/2026

25/07/2026

Warm weather and high volume of incidents in July sees the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland 'Unite to Turn the Tide' this World Drowning Prevention Day

The Irish Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland are joining together ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day this Saturday (25 July) to remember all those who have tragically lost their lives in Irish waters. July 2026 is on course to be one of the busiest months in many years, with record levels of activity and numerous call outs for teams on the coast and on inland waterways.

The theme for World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 is ‘Unite to turn the tide’ with a call on every sector and every level of society to unite to reduce drowning by 35% by 2035.

To date this year, 37 people have lost their lives in Irish waters, with each tragedy leaving a devastating and lasting impact on families, friends and communities.

Recent warm weather has brought significantly more people to Ireland’s beaches, rivers, lakes and coastline, leading to a sharp increase in demand for Coast Guard services and lifeguard interventions. So far this year, the Coast Guard has coordinated more than 1,700 incidents, resulting in 385 lives saved and over 1,600 people assisted. The scale of demand is reflected in the second week of July alone, when the Coast Guard coordinated 140 incidents, one of the highest incident totals recorded in a single week.

As the organisations reflect on an exceptionally busy summer period, they are urging everyone planning activities on or near the water to be prepared, understand the risks, and take simple steps to help ensure that everyone returns home safely.

If you are taking part in activities on or near the water, remember to:
🛟Check weather forecasts and tide times before heading out.
🛟If walking along the shoreline, remain alert to rising tides, which can quickly lead to stranding
🛟Choose lifeguarded beaches where possible, always swim with others, and stay within your depth
🛟Be aware of rip currents, which can rapidly carry even strong swimmers away from shore
🛟Warm weather does not mean safe water. Cold water can cause cold-water shock, significantly increasing the risk of drowning. Enter the water slowly to allow your body to adjust
🛟Ensure children are kept under constant, uninterrupted supervision near water.
🛟Avoid alcohol before swimming, operating watercraft, or spending time near the water
🛟Always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid when participating in activities on the water
🛟Pay attention to all water safety signs, flags and local warnings
🛟Tell someone ashore about your plans and expected return time
🛟Always carry a means of calling for help, such as a fully charged mobile phone or a marine VHF radio.


If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast or think that they are in trouble, use marine VHF radio Ch 16 or dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.