Inshore Rescue Boat
Instructor/Tutor: Justin Crowley
Contact: 086 891 5219
Inchydoney Inshore Lifeboat Association
Operates the Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) “Réalt na hInse” providing rescue cover for the Inchydoney beach area in cooperation with local county council beach lifeguards.
History
The Inchydoney Inshore Lifeboat Association is a community-based volunteer rescue service established in 1970 to help protect people using Inchydoney Beach in West Cork. The service was formed following a tragic drowning in 1968, when local man John Crowley, a father of six, lost his life. The incident highlighted the need for additional water-safety and rescue resources at the beach.
Since its establishment, the association has operated as a community-funded lifeboat service, providing an important additional layer of safety alongside the Cork County Council lifeguard service. The lifeboat is particularly important during the busy summer months, when Inchydoney attracts large numbers of local residents and visitors
The association is run by local volunteers and a volunteer committee, with the committee responsible for areas such as fundraising, maintenance and management of the service. Fundraising has traditionally been an important part of keeping the lifeboat operational, with local collections supporting the running costs of the boat.
A significant development came in 2017, when the association launched a new lifeboat named Réalt na hInse. The new vessel strengthened the association’s ability to provide an effective rescue service at Inchydoney
As of 2026, the service remains community funded and volunteer operated. The lifeboat continues to provide additional water-safety support alongside the Cork County Council beachguards, with patrols operating during the summer season
Donate Today
https://www.idonate.ie/cause/inchydoneylifeboat
Chairperson – Val Lynch
Secretary – John Collins, Jerome Lynch, Traolach O’Donnabháin
Treasurer – Leslie Beamish, John O’Sullivan, Michael McCarthy, Denis Kingston, Eileen Kingston, Sinéad Coules, Liz O’Regan, Colette Murphy, Des O’Dowd
IRB Operations Manager – John O’ Sullivan
