877 coastguard operations out of Valentia last year

The Coast Guard Marine Rescue sub-centre in Valentia, which covers Cork, co-ordinated 877 incidents last year.

These were among 2,793 incidents nationally dealt with by the Irish Coast Guard, ranging from search-and-rescue operations to maritime casualty responses, as well as pollution control and preparedness activities,

The 44 coastguard units across Ireland were deployed 1,187 times during the year, including 933 helicopter missions, such as medical support for offshore island communities.

The service provided life-saving assistance to 1,941 people, either preventing loss of life or ensuring timely medical care.

The three rescue co-ordination centres in Dublin, Malin, and Valentia tasked RNLI lifeboats on 798 occasions, and activated the community inshore rescue service 121 times.

The service also reached a major milestone in its aviation capability, with the AW189 helicopters operated by Bristow Ireland commencing operations from Shannon, Dublin, and Sligo and fixed-wing operations from Shannon in September.

A coastguard spokesperson said the additional aviation capacity proved critical in extreme and unpredictable weather, which placed unprecedented demands on emergency services.

Joanna Cullen, assistant secretary general at the Department of Transport with responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard, said 2025 was a year that “truly tested the resilience and capability of the Irish Coast Guard”.

“The extreme weather conditions we faced demanded rapid, co-ordinated responses, and I am proud of how our teams rose to the challenge. The successful transition of three bases and the introduction of fixed-wing operations have been game-changers, enabling us to respond faster and more effectively."

“These advancements... ensured that communities across Ireland received the life-saving support they needed.”