A Little bit of HistoryArklow was the first lifeboat station to be established in Ireland in 1826. Over the years the crews have been presented with seven awards for gallantry. Today the station has an all weather Trent class lifeboat. 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.