Baltimore Lifeboat Station

31/07/2026

Water Safety Ireland, Irish Coast Guard and RNLI urge water safety vigilance over Bank Holiday weekend

Water Safety Ireland, Irish Coast Guard, and RNLI are urging swimmers, visitors, and holidaymakers to take extra care around the coast this Bank Holiday weekend and to familiarise themselves with local conditions before entering the water.

As many people travel to coastal locations during the holiday period, the organisations are also encouraging beach goers to take time to read local safety signage, check for potential hazards such as rip currents, and to swim at a lifeguarded waterway if possible.

Lifeguards around the country are busy dealing with incidents involving inflatable toys and air mattresses, which are lightweight, unstable, and which can quickly drift out to sea, or capsize unexpectedly, leaving users at risk.

If you are taking part in activities on or near the water, remember to:
Check the weather and tide times before venturing out
If walking along the shore, remain alert to rising tides to avoid stranding
Make every effort to choose a lifeguarded waterway, listed at https://watersafety.ie/lifeguards/
Avoid cold-water shock by entering the water slowly
Be aware of rip currents, which can rapidly carry you away from shore
Swim with others and within your depth
Leave inflatable toys at home
Avoid alcohol
Always wear a lifejacket or suitable buoyancy aid for your activity
Ensure children are kept under constant, uninterrupted supervision near water
Let someone ashore know where you are going and when you are due back
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.

Friday 31 July is

Lifeguarded Areas By County For operational reasons, the Lifeguard cover may vary from the details listed here. If in doubt, please contact the relevant Local Authority directly for confirmation. Locations: River Barrow - Clashganna Borris, Bagenalstown Months: June weekends, July to August everyday...

23/07/2026

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.

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.

12/07/2026

Details from last nights call out for Baltimore RNLI, and Baltimore Sailing Club honours the victorious crew members from our station after their fantastic series of wins at the recent Beaufort Cup

Baltimore RNLI were requested to provide a medical evacuation last night (Saturday 11 July) from Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork.

10/07/2026

Crosshaven RNLI escorts Baltimore RNLI crew on yacht Storm to Crosshaven after they won the Beaufort Cup . Thank you RNLI Crosshaven Lifeboat Station a lovely gesture!

📸 Dennis Murphy

10/07/2026

📸 RNLI/Odharnait Collins

10/07/2026

A huge congratulations to our team from Baltimore RNLI, we are so proud of you all! What a fantastic achievement! 🥇🏆 🥳

Message below is from Baltimore RNLI volunteer crew member Rob O’Leary
Video: RNLI/Odharnait Collins

Baltimore Lifeboat crew win the Beaufort Cup with all race wins.
A challenging week with the Fastnet Race, Harbour Race, Coastal and Windward Leeward Courses.
To all the lifeboat crew who helped with logistics and the panel of crew that raced during the week, thank you and well done for a win well deserved.
A massive thank you to Pat Kelly and the Kelly family for the use of their J109 Storm for the regatta.
I’m honoured to be a part of this crew and look forward to the years ahead.
R

09/07/2026

Very proud of our volunteer RNLI crew

Baltimore RNLI crew receive the San Souci Cup for the Fastnet offshore race at the Beaufort Cup gala dinner in Haulbowline.

09/07/2026

RNLI release short water safety film to show young people the importance of ‘Float to Live’ message

With a spell of hot weather forecasted to last into next week and with heat wave conditions expected, the RNLI is today (Wednesday 8 July) releasing a short film ‘Float’ which aims to show young people the importance of the charity’s ‘Float to Live’ message in drowning prevention.

Last weekend lifeboat volunteers were present at Croke Park, in front of over 83,000 fans, sharing lifesaving water safety advice as part of a partnership with the GAA under their Healthy Clubs Programme. Through that partnership the charity hopes to give young people who are most at risk of drowning, the water safety advice that could save their lives or the lives of others.

The short film shot in County Wicklow, which was made by Banjoman, follows a 15-year-old boy on one warm day in summer. The young man is shown with his friends, playing football with his local GAA club and enjoying swimming, until one evening a solo dip sees him getting into difficulty in the water and struggling. Remembering the RNLI advice of Float to Live, he resists the instinct to panic, swim, or thrash about and remembers to float and survives.

The RNLI’s advice is that the act of floating can give a person the chance to rest and recover breathing, before being able to raise their hand and call for help or swim to safety.

Kate Eardley, RNLI Head of Global Drowning Prevention added, ‘This beautifully made short film is an important tool for us in our drowning prevention work. In the RNLI we know the power of stories in conveying lifesaving advice. Over a thousand people have drowned in Ireland during the last decade, many of whom were young people. Our hope is that though this short film which ends with a life saved through the Float to Live message, more people will be aware of water safety and will share the message far and wide.

‘The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – and it's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety. Practise floating in a supervised location like a swimming pool.’

The RNLI is grateful to all who enabled the film to be produced including Wicklow RNLI and Kilmacanogue GAA. The charity hopes the film will be widely shared and viewed in the weeks and months ahead and that it will help to save lives.

The film is available to view below:

08/07/2026

First in their class in the Harbour Race today for the Baltimore RNLI crew aboard Storm competing in the Beaufort Cup all week at Cork Week.

📸 Finn Kirkpatrick

07/07/2026

Well done to our Baltimore RNLI crew who won the around the Fastnet race, from Cork Harbour around the Fastnet and back to Cork Harbour, as part of the Beaufort Cup.