Achill Island Lifeboat Station sits in the shadow of Carrickkildavnet Castle, overlooking Achill Sound, at the southern tip of Achill Island, the largest of the Irish isles, located of the east coast of Ireland in County Mayo.
A lifeboat station was established on Achill Island in August 1996 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The station currently operates 14-28 "Sam and Ada Moody" (ON 1240), a All-weather lifeboat, on station since 1999.
History.
A meeting of the RNLI executive committee on 22 November 1995 resolved that a lifeboat was to be placed at Kildavnet on Achill Island in County Mayo, to cover the area of Clew Bay, for a one-year evaluation period. The nearest All-weather lifeboat stations were , to the north, and , to the south.
Crew facilities were provide in July 1996, in the form of a portakabin and storage containers, and the 22-year-old All-weather lifeboat 44-009 "Helen Turnbull" (ON 1027), previously stationed at , was temporarily placed on station, arriving at Achill Sound on 28 August.
After just 14 months, the "Helen Turnbull" (ON 1027) was withdrawn on 26 January 1998, and replaced by another temporary boat, the 52-foot lifeboat 52-10 "Soldian" (ON 1057), previously stationed at . "Soldian" would serve at Achill Island for just over one year, but in that time, would record the stations Silver Medal service.
"Soldian" was launched at 04:50, to begin the journey to Achill Head, to the aid of the fishing vessel "Carrigeen Bay", drifting towards the rocks with engine failure. In violent gale-force conditions, with waves, the lifeboat arrived to find the vessel just from the rocks. With conditions too rough to effect a crew transfer, with great difficulty, a tow was set up. Even though the line parted several times, the vessel was towed to the shelter of Clare Island, arriving at 10:00. For this service, Coxswain Brian Patten was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.
"Soldian" was withdrawn just two months later on 28 April 1999. She was replaced by Achill Islands first permanent lifeboat, a new lifeboat. At a ceremony on 18 September 1999, the lifeboat, funded from the bequest of the late Mrs Ada Moody, was named 14-28 "Sam and Ada Moody" (ON 1240). The award of the RNLI Silver Medal to Coxswain Patten was announced at the end of the ceremony.
On 20 May 2002, the lifeboat was launched when four canoeists were blown out to sea in unseasonable gale force 7 conditions, which increased to force 9. In time critical circumstances, the lifeboat launched with just the coxswain and three crew, and a rescue helicopter was also dispatched. Two 
canoeists were rescued by helicopter, the other two people and three canoes were recovered by the lifeboat. The casualties were landed at Dugort, although conditions were too rough to tie up, so the coxswain held the bow to the pier to get all survivors ashore. The fourth canoe was retrieved on the return journey to Achill Sound. Letters of commendation were accorded to Coxswain Tommy Kilbane and 3 crew.
After eight years in temporary accommodation, new crew facilities were provided, when a boathouse was constructed in 2004, at a cost of just over £600,000.
In 2005, crew members David Curtis and Arthur Knipe, and Dr Patrick Lineen, would be three of the first recipients of the new "Framed Certificate for First Aid", for their care of a seriously injured woman, who had fallen onto the derelict pier at Clare Island, on the night of 9 April.
Launching at 11:00 on 19 September 2013, the lifeboat went to the aid of a fishing boat with its nets entangled in the propellers, west of Achill Island. Arriving 3 hours later in "challenging" conditions, with force 7–8 winds and waves, a tow was established, arriving back to the island at 07:00 the following day. The lifeboat had been out for 17 hours.
"Sam and Ada Moody" was launched at 20:30 on 23 May 2022, to the aid of a lone yachtsman. His racing yacht had lost all power, and so was unable to communicate, couldn't drop his sail, and had no steering control. A fixed-wing aircraft located his position west of Achill Island. The lifeboat arrived on scene at 23:00, and the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 was dispatched to illuminate the vessel. A tow was set up, with the yacht brought to Clare Island, arriving at 08:55. The lifeboat returned to base by 10:00, almost 14 hours after setting out.
Station honours.
The following are awards made at Achill Island.
Brian Patten, Coxswain/Asst. Mechanic – 1999
Brian Patten, Coxswain/Asst. Mechanic – 2000
Stephen McNulty, Mechanic – 1999
Thomas Kilbane, crew member – 1999
John Johnston, crew member – 1999 
Raymond McKenna, crew member – 1999 
Liam Fallon, crew member – 1999
Edward Corrigan, crew member – 1999
The crew of the Achill Island lifeboat – 1999
Thomas Kilbane, Coxswain – 2002
Three crew members of the Achill Island lifeboat – 2002
David Curtis, crew member – 2005 
Arthur Knipe, crew member – 2005 
Dr Patrick Lineen – 2005