Ever since its founding in 1824, the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), later to become the RNLI in 1854, would award medals for deeds of gallantry at sea, even if no lifeboats were involved.

"The Blackwater Bank, extending for many miles along this part of the coast, has been from time immemorial a source of great danger to shipping, and seldom a year passes that several wrecks do not take place on it.

[6] On 7 August 1861, the Spanish barque Primera de Torrevieja, on passage from Liverpool to Havana, ran aground on Blackwater Bank, 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Cahore.

The other four men were also badly treated, put off on a pilot boat at Cork, with no payment for their service and help, and finding themselves with no funds to return the 200 km (120 mi) to home.

[7] The Cahore lifeboat would bring ashore the six crew of the schooner Speed of Wexford, anchored close to the rocks in a strong gale on 9 May 1865.

When the barque Nanta of Lussino went ashore at Rusk Bank on 18 January 1877, whilst on passage from Glasgow to Trieste, the lifeboat took three hours to make the 4.8 km (3.0 mi) to the vessel.

[14] Launching at 20:30 on 17 May 1891, the John Brooke rescued five men from the Jewess, on passage from Wexford to Dublin with a cargo of malt, when she ran aground on Bam Shoal near Morriscastle.

[16] The lifeboat Willie and Arthur was launched at 20:30 on 20 August 1908, and four crew were rescued from the schooner Helen MacGregor, on passage from Scotland to Arklow.

[17] At the meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Friday 13 October 1916, following the visit and report of the District Inspector, the decision was made to close Cahore Lifeboat Station.