RNLI and Emergency Services Open Day, Bundoran

What to Expect

Bundoran RNLI hosts its Emergency Services Open Day on Sunday 30 August 2026, now in its sixth year running. The free, family-friendly afternoon lets visitors meet crews from Bundoran RNLI, Bundoran Fire and Rescue, An Garda Síochána, Donegal Bay Community First Responders, the Emergency Call Answering Service and the Department of Defence, with live demonstrations, informative displays and vehicles and equipment all on show along the pier. Organisers describe it as a chance to meet “the heroes behind the uniforms” and get up close to the vehicles, boats and gear that keep the local coastline and community safe.

The event has grown year on year since it began, and by its sixth edition has become a fixture of the Bundoran summer calendar, timed for the tail end of the peak tourist season while the town is still busy with holidaymakers. Beyond the entertainment value of seeing lifeboats, fire engines and Garda vehicles up close, the open day gives the RNLI’s volunteer crew a platform to raise awareness of water safety and the work of the station, which relies entirely on charitable donations and volunteer effort to keep its lifeboats on standby around the clock.

Good to Know

The open day runs from 1pm to 4pm at Bundoran Lifeboat Station on the pier. Admission is free and no tickets are required, so visitors can simply turn up on the day. It is aimed at all ages, with plenty of photo opportunities alongside crews and vehicles, and is well suited to young children curious about emergency services. As a community open day hosted by the RNLI’s local station, it also functions as an informal awareness and goodwill event for the volunteer lifeboat service, which the charity relies on to sustain public support. Enquiries can be made to Bundoran RNLI directly by phone or email, or through their Facebook and Instagram pages, where updates on the day’s running order are usually posted in advance.

Getting There

Bundoran Lifeboat Station is on the pier at the West End of the seaside town, a short walk from the main street and the town’s public car parks, making it an easy stop to combine with a wider day out in Bundoran.