Fenit RNLI

02/10/2026

🌬️ If you can see it, hear it or feel it, it's too windy to paddle.

Many paddleboarders get caught out by offshore winds because the water can appear calm and inviting. But looks can be deceiving.

A Force 4 wind (20 km/h or 13 mph) can push a paddleboarder around one mile offshore in just 30 minutes.

That's why we encourage:

🚪 Force 4 or more, close the door. Or simply remember: 🍀 13 mph = unlucky for paddleboarding ✅ 20 km/h = plenty of wind to stay ashore

Before heading out, check the forecast, look around and ask:

💨 Dust or rubbish blowing?
🌳 Small branches moving?
🌊 White horses forming?
👂 Wind gusts easy to hear?
👕 Wind moving your clothing or board?

If the answer is yes, think twice before launching.

🏄‍♂️ The safest paddle is the one where you return safely.

RNLI
Fenit RNLI
Irish Coast Guard
Radio Kerry
Tralee Bay Sailing Club -Fenit

18/09/2026

Our lifesaving work wouldn't be possible without our selfless and dedicated volunteers. If you would like to nominate a RNLI volunteer who deserves an award, you can nominate them on the Volunteer Ireland website here:
www.volunteer.ie/nominate

17/09/2026

Fenit RNLI responded to a false alarm with good intent this morning (Thursday, 17 September) after a member of the public spotted what they thought to be a person in difficulty in the sea west of Fenit Pier.

The volunteer crew were requested at 10.21am to launch both their new Shannon class lifeboat on what was its first call out, and the station’s inshore D class lifeboat.

The request was made by the Irish Coast Guard following a report of a surfer in difficulty west of Fenit Pier.

At the time, there were fresh sea conditions with challenging Force 4-5 south westerly winds and a 2m swell.

The Shannon launched under Coxswain John J Moriarty and with four crew members onboard while the D class was helmed by Terry Sheehy and with two crew members onboard.

Once on scene, the crew seen a windsurfer who confirmed they were not in need of any assistance and the lifeboats were subsequently stood down.

Speaking following the call out, Fergus Kelliher, Fenit RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘While this was a false alarm with good intent this morning, we would like to take the opportunity to commend the member of the public who raised the alarm when they had a genuine concern for somebody, that is always the right thing to do if you think you see someone in difficulty in the water.

‘This was a milestone morning for our new Shannon class lifeboat, the Roy Barker VII, which only at 2pm on Tuesday, was declared a search and rescue asset by the Irish Coast Guard. The first call out for the new lifeboat comes as we now complete the transition from a Trent to a Shannon class lifeboat. This has involved intensive training and assessments for our volunteers in recent months and with that, a huge amount of time and selfless dedication from all involved including our volunteers’ families and we wish to express a sincere thank you and well done to all the team.’

16/09/2026

New Shannon lifeboat “Roy Barker VII”

Fenit RNLI are delighted to let you know that our new Shannon class lifeboat, the “Roy Barker VII”, has arrived and as of yesterday, has been officially declared a search and rescue asset by the Irish Coast Guard. We would like to thank everyone who got us to this point including our team of volunteers and our RNLI staff colleagues.

Transitioning from a Trent to a Shannon class lifeboat has involved intensive training and assessments for our volunteers in recent months and with that, a huge amount of time and selfless dedication from all involved including our volunteers’ families. A sincere thank you and well done to all.

RNLI
Irish Coast Guard
Kerry County Council
The Kerryman
Tralee Bay Sailing Club -Fenit
Tralee Lions Club
Cara Credit Union
Traleetoday.ie
Kerry's Eye
St.Brendan's NS
Radio Kerry

12/09/2026

🌊 Become a Volunteer Water Safety Officer with Fenit RNLI 🌊

Do you have a passion for water safety and a desire to lead positive change in your local community?
As a Volunteer Water Safety Officer, you'll coordinate and lead local water safety activity, develop targeted interventions for at-risk groups, and work alongside RNLI volunteers to help prevent drowning incidents in coastal and inland water environments.
✅ Lead and support a team of Water Safety Advisers
✅ Help shape local water safety plans
✅ Gain valuable leadership and planning experience
✅ Flexible volunteering with full training provided

Join us and help save lives through drowning prevention.

RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea, but it’s not limited to launching a lifeboat or providing lifeguards to save lives.

02/09/2026

Fenit RNLI would like to extend our warmest congratulations to three of our crew members and their families as their three sons take an exciting first step on their school journey. 🎒📚

All three boys started school in Fenit this week, and we wish them every happiness and success as they begin this new chapter.

From all of us at Fenit RNLI — well done lads, and best of luck! 💛🚤

St.Brendan's NS
RNLI
Irish Coast Guard
Water Safety Ireland

14/08/2026

Fenit RNLI Open Day 9th August

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make our Open Day such a wonderful success! 💛

We’re incredibly grateful to all our amazing community volunteers, supporters,and everyone who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to help throughout the day.

A special thank you to our local musicians, Kosy Cubs Yoga Club for kids yoga and a Float to live session, our face painter Samantha, the many people who donated baked goods and Gala Fenit for the beautiful spread of food.

Your kindness, hard work and community spirit made such a difference, and we couldn’t have done it without you. It was fantastic to see so many people come together, enjoy the day and support our community.

Fergus Kelliher, our Lifeboat Operations Manager, says: "Fenit RNLI Lifeboat Station is right at the heart of our community and we are so grateful for everyone’s continued generosity and support. Our Open Day is our way of saying thank you to our community and to give them a glimpse of how we save lives at sea. We were delighted to welcome everyone.”

Thank you once again to everyone who played a part in making the day so special. Your support means so much to us. 💛🌊

📸 Thanks to Graham Davis & Mary Browne for the photos.

RNLI
Irish Coast Guard
Traleetoday.ie
Radio Kerry
Kerry's Eye

12/08/2026

Busy weekend for Fenit RNLI with three call outs and an Open Day event

The first of the three lifeboat callouts which came in the space of twenty-four hours, occurred on Saturday (8 August), with the second happening during the station’s annual open day on Sunday (9 August), shortly followed by the third on Sunday night (9 August).

On Saturday evening the volunteer lifeboat crew were paged, at 10:46pm, following a Coast Guard report that a 28ft pleasure boat had got into difficulty and had lost engine power at small mucklagh, North west of Little Samphire Lighthouse, Tralee Bay.

The All- weather lifeboat launched immediately and made its way to the scene, where they found the vessel disabled and unable to return to a port.

After a full assessment of the situation by the Coxswain, Terry Sheehy, the decision was made to tow the yacht into the nearest safest port of Fenit harbour, with the two people on board the casualty vessel being brought to safety.

On Sunday during the Fenit RNLI Open day, the volunteer crew were tasked again by the Irish Coast Guard, at 3:30pm, to reports of two individuals on jet skis that had got into difficulty near Barrow harbour.

The all-weather lifeboat was launched within minutes with Coxswain Finbarr O’Connell, as the volunteer crew were on-board giving tours to the community for the annual open day. The public all assisted quickly and moved out of the way, as the claxon was sounded and the Fenit RNLI crew assembled.

As the all-weather lifeboat reached the scene, the two individuals had safely arrived on shore and the Irish Coast Guard stood down the lifeboat.

The lifeboat crew arrived back to Fenit harbour at 4:15pm, where the lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service. They then assisted with the remaining of the open day celebrations.

Not long home from the open day clean-up of the station, the pagers sounded at 9:12pm and the all-weather lifeboat was tasked by the Coast Guard. The volunteer crew proceeded to Tralee Bay where a plane overhead had raised the alarm after being diverted to an Irish airport. As they arrived safely, Fenit RNLI was stood down and returned home.

RNLI
Irish Coast Guard
Traleetoday.ie
The Kerryman
Radio Kerry
Kerry's Eye
fans
Cara Credit Union
Tralee Bay Sailing Club -Fenit
Tralee Lions Club

11/08/2026

📟 Call out 📟

Fenit RNLI comes to the aid of one person and a dog after 6m yacht takes on water off the Kerry coast

Fenit RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat on Thursday evening, the 23rd July following reports of a 6m sailing yacht taking on water north of the Blasket Islands. One person and a dog were onboard.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115 from Shannon and Valentia RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat were also tasked.

The lifeboat crew were paged at 8.09pm and launched the lifeboat minutes later under Coxswain Kevin Moriarty and with mechanic Adrian Mahony, navigator Denise Lynch and crew members Caroline Corkery, Ciaran Forde, Terry Sheehy and Shane Mulcair onboard.

As the lifeboat made its way towards Brandon, the crew received word that Fenit Sea Safari had reached the yacht and had taken it under tow, allowing both the helicopter and Valentia RNLI to be stood down.

Fenit RNLI reached the vessel near Sauce Creek at 9pm and assessed the situation. Due to the water ingress, a decision was made that the safest course of action was for the lifeboat to establish a tow and bring it back to the nearest safe harbour at Fenit Marina where all arrives at 12.20am. A crew member transferred onto the yacht to monitor the water ingress throughout the passage. During the tow, the yacht was brought alongside the lifeboat, enabling the crew to use the salvage pump to remove the water and keep the vessel safe during the return journey.

Following the call out, Fergus Kelliher, Fenit RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘We would like to wish the sailor and their dog well. We would also like to commend our volunteers, the 13 crew members who responded to the pager and our invaluable shore crew. Thanks to our colleagues at our flanking station at Valentia and to the crew of Rescue 115. Thanks to the crew of the local vessel for their prompt assistance in reaching the sailor initially and for helping to ensure a safe outcome.’

https://www.idonate.ie/cause/fenitrnli

RNLI
Irish Coast Guard
Water Safety Ireland

📸 Photo Credit Sarah Daly

08/08/2026

We love it when RNLI stations team up! ❤️🚤

A huge thank you to John Ashwood Second Coxswain, from Donaghadee Lifeboat for making this beautiful handmade lifeboat Stormy Stan bucket holder for Fenit RNLI.

We will treasure this very special gift at our station. ❤️

What started as a short conversation and an idea turned into this wonderful handmade gift, which was then kindly couriered down to us.

We absolutely love it, and what a lovely addition to have at the station ahead of our Open Day tomorrow.

Thank you to our fellow crew at Donaghadee RNLI for your kindness, creativity and continued support. It’s what makes the RNLI community so special. 💙

📸 Volunteer Fenit RNLI Crew Finbarr Griffin and Shane Mulcair

Fenit RNLI
John Ashwood
RNLI