Carrybridge RNLI

27/08/2026

🎉🎉 Save The Date! 🎉🎉

The 25th Anniversary of the formation of Carrybridge RNLI is in June 2027 and we'd love to have you come and support that event as we celebrate 25 years of life saving on Lough Erne.

Saturday 5th June 2027 in the beautiful pavilion at Belle Isle Estate, Castle and Cottages

We hope to see you there!

25/08/2026

Very well done, thank you

Well we may have had rain for the first year, but it is Fermanagh. 😊 Thanks to everyone who helped to raise an amazing £800 in aid of both our local RNLI stations.

25/08/2026

Can you join our crew?

The RNLI’s Lifeboat Station in Carrybridge is looking for a volunteer to join the existing team in the role of Launch Authority.

Carrybridge helps provide protection for those who use Upper Lough Erne and its surrounding inland waterways.

The Launch Authority is an exciting and demanding role in which you will be in command of the station as it responds to service calls from His Majesty’s Coast Guard. Reporting to the LOM you will also support the development of crew and manage the station and its resources to ensure we are always ready to go afloat. It is land based and requires that you live within 10 minutes of the Carrybridge Life Boat Station.

The Lifeboat Crew are all volunteers, headed up by the Lifeboat Operations Manager and Launch Authorities and supported by a Shore Crew team. All boat and shore crew follow the RNLI’s Operation Competence Framework (OCF) and respond to pagers when there is a request to launch the lifeboat. The wider team includes volunteer fundraisers, shop volunteers and water safety volunteers.

What you need for this role

Team player
Good communicator
General fitness
Ability to learn new skills
Live or work within 10 minutes of the station and be between 18 and 70 years of age.

What’s in it for you

Join an inclusive and diverse organisation
Have fun, meet new people and join a motivated and enthusiastic team who are making a difference
Learn skills and gain experience to enhance your CV
Gain the satisfaction of giving back
Training to fulfil your volunteer role will be provided and reasonable out of pocket expenses reimbursed

For more information about this role visit: http://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/launch-authority---carrybridge-618085.html

20/08/2026

🛟🛟New Helm Celebrated at Carrybridge RNLI🛟🛟

Carrybridge Lifeboat Station is proud to announce that one of it’s volunteers, Matthew Nelson, has successfully completed their Helm passout. This role means that Matthew will be in command of the lifeboat when it launches on exercise or taskings.

The passout was conducted by Sean Ginnelly, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer, who had travelled up from Achill Island to conduct the assessments on behalf of the RNLI.

Conducted on Wednesday of this week, the passout took place both ashore at the Lifeboat station and afloat on Upper Lough Erne lasted five hours and rigorously tested Matt’s skills. The role of ILB Helm was refreshed at the beginning of 2024, part of the RNLI's new Operational Competency Framework that went live at the same time. Matthew demonstrated high standards of skill using charts, radar, AIS, GPS, buoyage, passage planning, search patterns and knowledge of local waters.

This passout represent the culmination of many years of intensive training for Matthew having logged hundreds of hours in afloat exercises, hands-on sessions, and active service calls in all conditions.

Aged 36, Matthew works as a Games Developer and loves spending time jet skiing and boating on Lough Erne.

Carrybridge RNLI continues to train volunteers in various roles, both afloat and ashore, to the highest standards as part of its mission to save lives on Lough Erne.

Following the visit, Matthew said, “It feels amazing to pass out and take the next step in my lifeboat volunteer career. I’m really looking forward to taking the helm on training and shouts alike.”

Stephen Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager at the station says, “I’d like to congratulate Matt on successfully completing his helm passout. Matthew has been a very dedicated member of our team since he joined our station in January 2020 and I’m delighted that today we celebrate this milestone. Getting to the helm level on our boat requires a lot of dedication and sacrifice and Matthew has and will continue to be a huge asset to our station.

Photo Detail:
Left to right: Matthew Nelson, Helm and Sean Ginnelly, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer

RNLI

15/08/2026

Don’t forget to sign up for the Castle Island Charity Swim tomorrow. Registration from 11.00am with the swim taking place at 12 noon.
Proceeds towards Carrybridge RNLI and Enniskillen RNLI.

13/08/2026

We’re delighted to welcome the RNLI to Castle Archdale Holiday Park this Saturday 15th August for our Emergency Services Day.
The RNLI team will be on site giving visitors the chance to meet the team, learn more about staying safe around the water and get some important lifejacket advice.
They’ll also be holding a FREE RNLI Lifejacket Clinic, where you can bring along your own lifejacket and get useful tips on how to choose, fit and maintain it.
📅 Saturday 15th August
⏰ 1PM–5PM
📍 Castle Archdale Holiday Park
We’ll also be joined by Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, PSNI, North West Mountain Rescue and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, alongside live demonstrations, emergency vehicles, live music, face painting and our Where’s Wally? Scavenger Hunt.
Come along, meet the teams and enjoy a fantastic family day at Castle Archdale!

11/08/2026

🛟🛟🛟 Callout 🛟🛟🛟

Carrybridge RNLI tasked to assist 2 people and 2 dogs on a barge aground

At 3.49pm on Monday 10 August, Carrybridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Douglas Euan & Kay Richards was launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard, to assess a 13 metre Dutch Barge with two people and two dogs on board, which had run aground approx. 2 miles West of Kilmore Quay.

Winds were Westerly, Force 1. Visibility was good with part cloudy skies.

The volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat located the vessel which was aground just off the main navigation channel. Once alongside, the lifeboat crew assessed the wellbeing of the two people on board and found them to be safe and well and wearing lifejackets. The two dogs onboard were also checked and found to be calm and not showing any signs of being stressed. The casualty vessel was also checked, and all was found to be in a safe condition with no water ingress, however it was grounded in an area of very shallow water.

The lifeboat crew assessed the situation and due to the vessel’s location and its status of being aground, the helm deemed the safest option was for the owner to obtain the assistance of an independent recovery company to assist in the refloating of their vessel. This information was relayed onto Belfast Coastguard and the volunteer crew remained with the casualty vessel and its crew until the recovery company arrived on scene. Once their craft was successfully refloated, the lifeboat crew thanked the recovery company for their assistance, checked the casualty vessel and the people on board to make sure everything was ok which it was, and the casualty vessel was then able to proceed under its own power on its onward journey.

Once completed the crew onboard the Lifeboat then returned to station where it was left ready for service again.

Speaking following the call out, Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Carrybridge RNLI advised all boat users: ‘‘With people making the most of the exceptionally good weather which we have been encountering recently, we are seeing more people making the most of our wonderful waterways. We would advise all boat users before setting out on your journey to please plan your route ahead using the relevant charts for the area making sure to check the navigational marks on the water to those shown on your chart. Have a means of calling for assistance if you find yourself in trouble and have lifejackets for all on board. If you see someone or something in trouble on the water or are in difficulties yourself the number to dial is: 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’’

RNLI

11/08/2026

🌊 **Saving Lives at Sea is BACK!** 🌊

We’re thrilled to announce that **Series 11** of *Saving Lives at Sea* starts **Tuesday 18th August at 8pm on BBC Two**! 🚨

Once again, we’ll be alongside the incredible volunteers of the RNLI as they face some of the most challenging rescues around the UK - from dramatic callouts at sea to the quieter moments that show just what it means to be part of a lifeboat crew.

**Real rescues. Real people. Extraordinary volunteers.**

📺 **Saving Lives at Sea**
🗓️ **Tuesday 18th August**
⏰ **8pm**
📍 **BBC Two & BBC iPlayer**

Get involved, spread the word and join us for another series celebrating the incredible people who **Save Lives at Sea.** 🌊🚤

31/07/2026

Back for another year, please spread the word.