Irish Naval Service

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LÉ Eithne: 'Pride of the Irish Navy' Departs Cork Harbour for the Final Time

The Naval Service said an emotional and fond farewell to its former flagship, the LÉ Eithne, as the distinctive twin funnel vessel departed at the weekend from its homeport of Cork Harbour for the final time.

LÉ Eithne, which was decommissioned in 2022, RTE News reports, is to be towed overseas and be taken apart for scrap after hopes to convert the former Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV) into a museum in Irish waters never materialised.

The LÉ Eithne was launched in 1983 at the Verolme Cork Dockyard (V.C.D.) in Rushbrook, neighbouring Cobh, and was completed in 1984, before the yard closed in the same year. The HPV given the pennant number (P31) became the last vessel to be built at V.C.D. for the Naval Service, and as Afloat highlights, as last ever ship to be built in the Republic.

The 1,970 tonnes LÉ Eithne featured technology ahead of its time and had a crew complement of 72 and provision for 8 Air Corps personnel. As the Navy’s first and only HPV, the 84m P30 class ship served for 38 years on missions at home, and was deployed abroad in the Mediterranean, notably on humanitarian rescue missions in more recent years of the ship’s career.

In a statement released on the Naval Service’s Instagram account, it said: "This weekend, we say a heartfelt goodbye to LÉ Eithne, the pride of the Irish Navy and our beloved flagship, as she leaves Cork Harbour for the last time.

"For decades, LÉ Eithne has been a symbol of strength, bravery, and dedication, serving our nation with honour and distinction.

"From countless patrols safeguarding our waters, to providing humanitarian search and rescue in the Mediterranean and forging friendships with navies around the world in the diplomatic role, LÉ Eithne's legacy is etched in the hearts of all who served onboard her."

More here on this end-of-an era naval chapter https://afloat.ie/port-news/navy/item/6 ... -last-time LFT

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Navy Lookout
Russian submarines have exposed Ireland’s shameless hypocrisy.
Ireland is richer than Norway - why is it reliant on Norwegian aircraft to help defend it?
https://archive.is/D11Ul

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Ireland branded ‘the ultimate defence freeloader’ in report
Ireland has been labelled the “ultimate defence freeloader” in a recent article published by Politico, which accuses the country of failing to uphold its responsibilities in safeguarding Europe’s northwestern borders.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ireland ... in-report/

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Ireland’s Defence Review urges stronger defence capabilities
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ireland ... abilities/

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Ireland’s Defence Review urges stronger defence capabilities
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ireland ... abilities/

Lack of Irish defence ‘back door threat to UK’ says report
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/lack-of ... ys-report/

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Ireland may buy Israeli drones despite criticism over Gaza
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ireland ... over-gaza/

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Navy Lookout
LE George Bernard Shaw of the Irish Naval Servicce at the refueling pier Haulbowline, Cork.
All 4 Beckett class OPVs alongside together with 2 new patrol vessels bought from New Zealand.
Both Róisín class OPVs were at Verolme Dockyard.
Acute personnel issues with the Irish naval Service means not a single ship at sea.
Things can only worsen?
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41109211.html
[Plenty more info, photos and videos at https://x.com/naval_service ]

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'Not how navies work': Head of naval operations hits out at 'incorrect' reports on status of ships

Captain Darragh Kirwan the head of Naval Service Operations Command and his colleague Commander Eoin Smith spoke to the Journal

THE OFFICER IN charge of the Naval Service’s operations has hit out at suggestions that the force is failing to meet its responsibilities and strongly criticised suggestions that it is a “one ship” service.

In an exclusive interview Captain Darragh Kirwan, Officer Commanding Officer of Naval Service Operations Command, and his colleague Commander Eoin Smith, who is Fleet Operations Officer, spoke with some frustration about suggestions that the service is incapable of meeting the State’s security needs.

The Naval Service has had a difficult number of years, with extensive reports both in the media and in speeches in the Dáil that staffing numbers have plummeted, that the service was only able to put one ship out on patrol at a time and detailing an ongoing crisis in retaining highly trained specialists.

Continues https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-naval-s ... 5-Sep2024/

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Ireland’s Naval Service Struggling reveals report
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ireland ... ls-report/