Arklow RNLI

A Little bit of HistoryArklow was the first lifeboat station to be established in Ireland in 1826. Today the station has an all weather Trent class lifeboat.

Over the years the crews have been presented with seven awards for gallantry. Note to editors, all pictures used here are the sole property and copyright of Mark Corcoran/Arklow RNLI/RNLI except where expressly noted. (C) Mark Corcoran/Arklow RNLI/RNLI. Unauthorised use or copying is prohibited. The original and still dedicated branch of the RNLI on the East Coast of Ireland. This is the official

page of Arklow RNLI. Arklow History

1826 The first lifeboat station in Ireland was established by the RNLI at Arklow.

1830 The lifeboat from Arklow was sent to Newcastle in 1830 and the station closed.

1848 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coast Guard James Dillon for getting a line on board and rescuing 18 crew from the wreck of the ship Calypso at Mizen Head, near Arklow.

1857 The station re-opened and a new boathouse was built.

1865 The lifeboat capsized on service on 19 March, thankfully without the loss of life.

1866 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Peter Kavanagh for rescuing 34 men from the wrecked ship Tennessarian on 26 December 1865.

1867 A Silver Medal was awarded to Captain Edward Kearon for rescuing a boy on board the smack Kate and Mary.

1870 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain John Cummings for rescuing five people from the schooner Dove of Barrow, which had sunk on Arklow Bank.

1873 A new boathouse and slipway were built on the south side of the river.

1877 A Silver Medal was awarded to Second Coxswain William Manifold for his services over the previous 11 years.

1902 Crew Member John Dunn died suddenly in the lifeboat, which had just returned from exercise.

1912 The boathouse and slipway were adapted for the station’s first motor lifeboat.

1913 A bridge was built across the slipway.

1930 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1955 A case of rum was awarded by the Sugar Manufacturers Association (of Jamaica) for a service on 22–23 December for the longest winter service of 1955–56.

1974 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain Michael O’Brien for the rescue of six crew from two life rafts from the fishing trawler Jadestar Glory, which had run aground on the rocks at Cahore Point in a strong wind and a very rough sea.

1975 An anniversary Vellum was presented commemorating 150 years as a lifeboat station.

1997 The Trent class lifeboat Ger Tigchelaar arrived at the station in February. A new access ramp and mooring pontoon were completed in May. A Framed Letter of Thanks was presented to Coxswain Edward Dillon for the rescue of five crew from the fishing vessel Graceful aground at Clogga Point in November.

1999 A new store shed was completed in April.

2001 The station celebrated 175 years as a lifeboat station.

2012-RNLI ARKLOW received the "COMMUNITY Service" Award from Arklow Chamber of Commerce

Station honours

At Arklow the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 1

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1

Silver Medal 5

Our Lifeboat:
Ger Tigchelaar
Category: All-weather
Introduced:1997
Length: 14m
Range: 250 nautical miles
Speed: 25 knots
Weight: 27.5 tonnes
Crew: 6
Construction: Fibre reinforced composite
Launch type: Moored afloat

Contact Details

Arklow Lifeboat Station, South Quay, Co. Wicklow, Republic of Ireland

Telephone
(0402) 32850
Email: [email protected]
Trent class 14-19 Ger Tigchelaar currently on station.

Photos from Arklow Photo & Framing's post

03/06/2026

01/06/2026

A huge well done to our Arklow RNLI BIcenteneary team!!
What an amazing afternoon at Arklow RNLI
OUR community were out in force to support us!
As part of our 200 Year Celebrations, today each of our community groups placed their own time capsule in our time capsule which was sealed and wont be opened till our 250th year!!
We also clebrated John O'Neill receiving his pager as he passed out!! Congrats!!
We had a special birthday celebration with Tommy Nolan celebrating his birthday!!
More to follow!!
Thanks to everybody who took part in this event which we wanted to ensure helped us celebrate our 200 years of saving lives in our community and also looks to the next generations of lifesavers from our community!

RNLI Wicklow People Afloat Magazine Arklow Community First Responders Arklow Golf Links Arklow Sea Scouts Arklow RNLI Fundraising Branch An Garda Síochána Wicklow Wicklow Fire Service Derek Kavanagh Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney G.A.A. Club Arklow Sailing Club

27/05/2026

Join us on this Monday June 1st from 1.30pm as we seal up our time capsule to help us mark our 200th year Volunteering in our community!
We have cases from a huge cross section of our local community which will be placed in the time capsule by members of the groups, once sealed it's scheduled to be opened on the 250th Anniversary of Arklow Lifeboat!!
Music, Tea/Coffee/Refreshments will be available!!
Looking forward to seeing you there!!

01/05/2026

Last weekend we took a very special photo to mark the 200th anniversary of Arklow lifeboat station, the oldest RNLI station in Ireland. We welcomed current and former volunteers, rescuees and some of our wonderful supporters, to mark the occasion.

We have a year of exciting events planned and it will be an anniversary to remember. Thank you to the people of Arklow and surrounding areas for your continued support in helping us to save lives at sea.

📸Nigel Millard

26/04/2026

What a beautiful day at Arklow RNLI ,
We were delighted to welcome , colleagues, supporters and friends for a photo shoot to help us with celebrating our bicentenial!
Thanks to everybody who came down and all of our own crew who took part!
More to follow!!
RNLI

26/04/2026

SHOUT OUT!!!
!!WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR HELP TODAY!!
As part of our years celebrations we have a PHOTO OPPORTUNITY planned for 3.15pm today at Arklow South Beach, we'd like to invite any and all of our supporters, colleagues and friends that happen to be around town today and would like to take part!!
Hoping some of you can make it!!
SEE YOU THERE!!

26/04/2026

Huge shout out to our Volunteers from Boat Crew, Fundraising and Community Safety for a great day at Arklow Sailing Club, carrying out a demonstration and briefing of towing operations, lifejacket clinic and our lifeboat shop.. Great turnout and thanks to Seamus Creamer, Cillian Kavanagh and Conor McCarthy.

20/04/2026

Arklow RNLI Fundraising Branch are looking to recruit a Chairperson. Apply here! RNLIhttps://volunteer.rnli.org/opportunities/112940-branch-chairperson-arklow-2026-04-20?cookieconsent=set

Branch Chairperson (Arklow) You will enable volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews to save lives at sea by leading volunteers in vital fundraising activity in your local community.

16/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/187JCpThPh/

This May Bank Holiday weekend, Mary Nolan Hickey is undertaking a remarkable “Lap Across the Map” challenge to support Arklow RNLI as it celebrates 200 years of lifesaving.

She will travel by e-bike from Maynooth to Galway and back, raising vital funds to help keep lifeboat crews rescue-ready around the clock.

Every donation, no matter the size, will directly support the brave volunteers who dedicate their lives to saving others at sea.

Please support Mary’s journey here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/lap-accross-the-map-for-arklow-lifeboats-200th-anniversary

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Telephone

+35340232850

Website

http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/ireland/stations/arklowwicklow

Address

South Quay
Arklow

Arklow RNLI

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