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| | 56th ERNE HEAD OF THE RIVER |
| | Saturday 2nd March 2013 |
| | Timed |
| | Finishing Crew Mins:Secs |
| | Position No. Crew Identity Class Rowing Time |
| | 1 1 GM/NUIG/St.JoesMS 8 19:30 |
| | 2 3 U.C.D. BC MS 8 19:33 |
| | 3 2 QUBBC MS 8 19:49 |
| | 4 4 DUBC MS 8 19:52 |
| | 5 8 DUBC MI 8 20:08 |
| | 5 = 9 U.C.D. BC A MI 8 20:08 |
| | 7 6 NUIG BC MI 8 20:09 |
| | 8 5 St Michaels RC MS 8 20:30 |
| | 9 13 Neptune RC MJ18 8 20:55 |
| | 10 12 UCD BC B MI 8 21:03 |
| | 11 20 U.C.D. BC A MN 8 21:10 |
| | 12 25 DUBC B MN 8 21:11 |
| | 12 = 14 Portora BC MJ18 8 21:11 |
| | 14 19 QUBBC A MN 8 21:23 |
| | 15 21 NUIG BC MN 8 21:37 |
| | 16 10 St Michaels RC MI 8 21:46 |
| | 17 15 MCB BC MJ18 8 22:09 |
| | 18 30 Garda BC MI 4x 22:11 |
| | 19 18 DUBC A MN 8 22:17 |
| | 19 = 22 Portora/BBC/CAIBC MS 4x 22:17 |
| | 21 33 Bann RC MJ16 8 22:18 |
| | 22 24 U.C.D.L B.C A WS 8 22:24 |
| | 23 16 RBAI BC MJ18 8 22:26 |
| | 24 11 CAIBC MI 8 22:35 |
| | 25 27 QUBBC B MN 8 22:36 |
| | 26 35 MCB BC MJ16 8 22:47 |
| | 27 40 Portora BC MI 4+ 22:57 |
| | 28 23 LSC MS 4x 23:06 |
| | 29 28 DUBC C MN 8 23:08 |
| | 30 17 Blackrock BC MJ18 8 23:19 |
| | 31 41 BBC MM 8 E 23:22 |
| | 32 32 Portora BC MJ16 8 23:36 |
| | 33 42 BRC A MM 8 C 23:38 |
| | 34 43 BRC/BBC B MM 8 E 23:39 |
| | 35 29 U.C.D. BC MI 4x 23:41 |
| | 36 47 Bann RC WI 8 23:44 |
| | 37 45 QULBC WI 8 23:51 |
| | 38 31 U.C.D.L.B.C B WS 8 23:58 |
| | 39 34 CAIBC MJ16 8 24:08 |
| | 40 63 CAIBC MJ18 4+ 24:09 |
| | 41 38 BBC MS 4+ 24:10 |
| | 42 48 Portora BC WJ18 8 24:13 |
| | 43 50 Bann RC MM 8 C 24:31 |
| | 44 49 LVBC MM 8 E 24:42 |
| | 45 44 OCBC/TCBC MM 8 F 24:47 |
| | 46 60 St Michaels BC WS 4+ 24:52 |
| | 47 53 QULBC A WN 8 25:11 |
| | 48 57 BBC WM 8 D 25:13 |
| | 49 59 Portora BC WS 4x 25:19 |
| | 50 62 Bann RC MJ18 4+ 25:42 |
| | 51 52 Molesey B C MM 8 G 25:56 |
| | 52 37 MCB BC B MJ16 8 26:14 |
| | 53 54 BRC WN 8 26:33 |
| | 54 55 QULBC B WN 8 26:48 |
| | 55 58 Neptune BC WS 4x 27:04 |
| | 56 51 Portadown BC MM 8 D 27:09 |
| | 57 66 Portora BC A WJ16 8 27:16 |
| | 58 36 Portora BC B MJ16 8 27:22 |
| | 59 61 BRC WS 4+ 27:29 |
| | 60 65 CAIBC MJ16 4x 27:53 |
| | 61 67 Portora BC B WJ16 8 28:52 |
| | 62 56 QULBC C WN8 29:55 |
| | 63 = 7 QUBBC MI 8 Did Not Row |
| | 63 = 26 U.C.D BC B MN 8 Did Not Row |
| | 63 = 39 DUBC MI 4+ Did Not Row |
| | 63 = 46 NUIG BC WI 8 Did Not Row |
| | 63 = 64 Blackrock BC MJ18 4x Did Not Row |
| | The positions given are those relative to all crews participating. |
| | Positions within a Class are to be determined by inspection. |
|
#sywoc – Ireland's UCD sailing team have beaten Canada by 12 points to win the Student Yachting World Cup in France after the series was shortened due to gales in La Rochelle. The Irish team took the lead on Tuesday and extended it after being reinstated in a race they were previously disqualified from.
The event had been decided on the results of 13 races and two discards. IRL were clear winners on 25 points from Dalhousie University on 37 points and Italy's CUS Brescia in third place on 41 points. 14 Teams competed. (See full results sheet for download below).
It is the second time Ireland has won the prestigious trophy, Cork Institute of Technology won in 2008.
The Irish team claimed victory by the largest margin ever recorded by an Irish team competing throughout the 32 year history of the event. Team Ireland dominated the regatta by consistently scoring podium places in almost all of their 13 races throughout the championship to finish on a total of 25 points while their closest rivals, Team Canada, finished on 37 points.
The regatta which was held in La Rochelle, France, saw the top 14 teams from around the world compete for six days in wide ranging sailing conditions and race course formats. Team Ireland set down a clear marker of their intentions on the first day of the regatta by carding two second places. Team Ireland took a little longer to find their groove on the inshore race course however carding an eighth place, leaving them in third place overall on the first evening.
UCD hike hard on their way to a World tite win in La Rochelle
From there, the team's ability and confidence improved as they learned how to sail the boat most effectively in the varying wind and wavy conditions that La Rochelle produced on a daily basis. Team skipper Aidan Mc Laverty produced some breath-taking start line manoeuvres when jostling with the other nations trying to ensure the team started at the most favourable end of the start line on each occasion. Team Ireland's tactician Barry Mc Cartin's research on wind and tides in La Rochelle paid dividends as he frequently called the best lines and angles to sail the team around the course.
Day two of the regatta brought similar sailing conditions with a short chop and 12 knots of breeze. Team Ireland carded once again two second place finishes and an unfortunate "Did Not Finish" in the inshore race due to a navigational error. It was at this stage in the regatta where Team Ireland's training began to show as sail trimmers Simon Doran and Cathal Leigh-Doyle ensured the team maintained the best boat speed in the fleet.
The regatta brought numerous twists and turns on day three as the team carded a third place finish followed by two first place finishes in race numbers 8 and 9. The team utilised their subs tactically by brining on Ben Fusco and Ellen Cahill for the night race. This six hour long race was started at 16.30 and provided a unique tactical challenge to the team who had to cope with pitch black darkness as they sailed around La Rochelle bay. The team fought extremely hard in the testing conditions and finished third only securing their place on the last 20 meters of the race. Team Ireland's pit crew member Alyson Rumball, played a crucially influential role in ensuring our sail changes went smoothly and quickly throughout the night.
Going into the final three days of the regatta, Team Ireland had the smallest of cushions over second place Team Canada. Team fitness allowed the team to push on in the increased winds. Team mast man Theo Murphy and bowman David Fitzgerald excelled in the conditions and allowed them to out manoeuvre the other teams downwind while Bella Morehead trimmed brilliantly downwind.
Unfortunately, the last two days of the regatta had to be cancelled due to winds gusting 40 knots on the race course. However, Team Ireland's lead of 12 points ensured they secured the prestigious trophy and won the regatta. As a result of their win, Ireland Sailing Team –UCD will return to defend their title next year in France.
The team have to thank everyone for their support in the lead up and during the event. Support from Ireland and across the world during the regatta has been amazing and kept the team motivated and focused on representing our country.
#sywoc – UCD sailing team extended their overall lead at the Student world Yachting Cup in La Rochelle France yesterday after producing video evidence to prove they should not have been disqualified from Tuesday's racing for a premature start rule infringement.
Overturning the decision means the UCD team now lead the world championships by 11 points overall.
According to team captain Cathal Leigh Doyle UCD discovered a video of the start oin question that showed UCD acutally under the line when the start flag was dropped!
There are only two races left to sail in the series and sailing is called off todaywith 27-33 knots. The forecast for tomorrow is similar or worse. The latest they can start a race is 1.30 tomorrrow.
#ucd – UCD sailing team lie second in La Rochelle, France this morning buoyed up by a string of consistent results that sees them chasing overall leaders Canada by four points after xx race sailed so far in the Student Yachting World Cup.
UCD, captained by Cathal Leigh Doyle came second in six of the races so far which has tightened up the event leaderboard after discard. Yesterday UCD got out of the blocks with a second and another second and then a 13th.
Although lack of funding has already led to the withdrawal of two teams from next week's competition, Team Ireland under captain Cathal Leigh Doyle is celebrating a deal with sponsor Miagen in the nick of time.
A last minute deal for the team has given them a boost for their world title assautl, a title won previously by the Cork Institute of Technology.
The annual regatta attracts the top student sailors from around the world including Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK and the USA.
Heavy weather is due later on this week.
#youthsailing – Although funding issues have already forced the withdrawal of two international teams for the 2012 Student Yachting World Cup, Team Ireland from UCD is celebrating a title sponsor in the nick of time for next week's event in La Rochelle, France.
This Thursday, the Ireland Sailing Team - UCD travel to La Rochelle in France to compete at the 2012 Student Yachting World Cup. The annual regatta attracts the top student sailors from around the world including Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK and the USA.
After the team's last training session on Irish waters at the weekend UCD captain Cathal Leigh-Doyle thanked all the teams' official sponsors and formally announced that the team had finally secured a title sponsor "Miagen".
Cathal told Afloat.ie: "Miagen's signing today as the teams title sponsor adds perfectly to the great group of sponsors the team has secured over the last four months. We are delighted and honoured to have Dubarry, Martin Reilly Motors, CH Marine, Mast and Rigging Ireland, Meteo Forecasting Group, North Sails and Fotosail supporting the team. Without our sponsors we would not be going to this event"
Sponsorship though has been a worldwide problem for teams hoping to compete at this event this year as only as of two weeks ago, Team Scotland and Team Singapore had to pull out of the event due to lack of funding and sponsorship.
The UCD students earned the right to represent Ireland having won the Irish Student Yachting National Championships in Dun Laoghaire in March. The highly experienced team will not just be representing UCD but all corners of the island of Ireland. The 10 sailors hail from all over the country including Antrim, Cork, Down, Sligo, Wexford, Wicklow and Westport and between them share a wealth of skills and knowledge.
The team has been carrying out an intensive training program both on and off the water. The team has trained nearly every weekend under the instruction of their coaches Marty O'Leary and Maurice (Prof) O'Connell from North Sails. The Irish team have been training on board an A35 designed yacht in Dublin which is very similar to the "Grande Surprise" design boats which the team will be racing in La Rochelle, France. The yacht was generously lent to the team for their training program by the boats owners Joe Balfe and Joe McDonald to whom the team are extremely grateful. The team also frequently carried out two boat training sessions with another identical A35 named "Another Adventure" which was driven by Kenny Rumball.
Since last May the team has been searching for a number of service and financial sponsors in order to cover some of the costs associated with this very expensive regatta. The team contacted over 70 companies all over Ireland however the team were unable to secure a title financial sponsor until this week. A number of companies across Ireland agreed to provide their specific services free of charge which has covered a large proportion of the costs associated with the event and effectively enabled the team to travel to the event. Funding issues has been a worldwide problem for teams hoping to compete at this event this year as only as of two weeks ago, Team Scotland and Team Singapore had to pull out of the event due to lack of funding and sponsorship.
The team has also been carrying out an intensive fitness and strength training in UCD's High Performance Gym under the instruction of "". These training sessions were specifically designed and tailored for each team member specific roles on the boat.
Team skipper Aidan McLaverty competed at the event last year with Cork Institute of Technology when they came in third place and had this to say when asked how things were shaping up with a week to go:
"Training has gone really well, our coaches have been amazing and the team has really come together well. The next big issue for the team is the boat draw in France on Friday night. Last year we [CIT] had the worst boat in the fleet and it really affected our overall result - but we will have to wait and see!"
# ROWING: The Tullamore Time Trial drew a big entry on Saturday, with Dave Neale of UCD coming out on top with a time of eight minutes 26.40 seconds. Neale’s closest rival was Rory O’Connor of Queen’s University, who also learned his craft with Offaly Rowing Club. Sheila Clavin of St Michael’s in Limerick was the fastest woman, clocking 9:28.60.
Tullamore Time Trial, Saturday (Selected Results)
Overall: 1 D Neale (UCD) 8:26.40, 2 Neale 8:32.50, 3 R O’Connor (Queen’s) 8:39.00, 4 M McKibbin (Queen’s) 8:44.90, 5 McKibbin 8:56.40, 6 A Bolger (Carlow) 8:56.50. ]
Men – Open: Neale 8:26.40. Intermediate: McKibbin 8:44.90. Junior 18: Molloy (Athlone) 9:01.10. Junior 16: Egan (Athlone)
Women – Open: S Clavin (St Michael’s) 9:31.20. Intermediate: A Bulman (UCD) 9:30.40. Junior 18: Kelly (Carrick-on-Shannon) 10:06.60. Junior 16: McCabe (Carrick-on-Shannon) 10:41.30. Masters A: S Clavin (St Michael’s) 9:28.60.
#ANNALISE MURPHY - The Daily Sail reports on a busy few days ahead for Irish Olympic sailing star and August Sailor of the Month, Annalise Murphy.
As previously covered on Afloat.ie, the 22-year-old - who scored Ireland's best Olympic sailing result in 32 years at London 2012 in the Laser Radial class - will today join the crew of the Omani MOD70 yacht Oman Sail-Musandam in Dublin Bay as part of the MOD70 European Tour, in celebration of the 19th anniversary of the Round Ireland speed record set by the late Steve Fossett.
Meanwhile, Murphy is also busy supporting her fellow UCD students selected as Ireland's representatives in the 2012 Student Yachting World Cup, to take place in La Rochelle, France late next month.
Murphy, who returned to UCD this week to complete the degree in science she deferred for her Olympic training three years ago, said: “I’m great friends with the guys on the team from either sailing or my first year in UCD.
"They’re a really strong team and have a really good chance of winning at the World Cup. I wish them the best of luck."
#studentyachting – UCD will represent Ireland at the 2012 Student Yachting World Cup in La Rochelle, France from the 27th of October to the 3rd of November. Scroll down for the names of the ten member team.
The UCD students earned the right to represent Ireland having won the Irish Student Yachting National Championships in Dun Laoghaire in March. Cork Institute of Technology previously won the world student trophy in 2008 under skipper Nicholas O'Leary.
The highly experienced team will not just be representing UCD but all corners of the island of Ireland. The 10 sailors hail from all over the country including Antrim, Cork, Down, Mayo, Sligo, Wexford and Waterford and between them share a wealth of skills and knowledge.
The team's skipper Aidan McLaverty competed at the event last year when he and the team from Cork Institute of Technology took home the bronze. The Health and Performance graduate also trained previously with London Olympian Annalise Murphy and has won silver and bronze at world championships. The tactician for the team, Barry McCartin holds nine Irish National Sailing Championship titles across six different classes and has also competed internationally on the Olympic 470 class circuit.
The annual regatta in France attracts the top student sailors from around the world including Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK and the USA.
Team Captain Cathal Leigh Doyle, a UCD Business and Law graduate and Bowman David Fitzgerald have won numerous Irish national titles between them whilst medical students Simon Doran and Theo Murphy spent years competing in the Laser Radial class at international level. Ben Fusco has 9,000 miles of offshore experience and in 2009 won the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race with a record setting time. He also skippered the youngest team ever to sail around Ireland non-stop in 2010. The three girls on the team also have both national and international experience in spades. Isabella Morehead and Alyson Rumball both began sailing in Optimists from a very young age and quickly progressed to international regattas in Optimists, Fevas, 420s and 29ers. While Ellen Cahill has spent the past 18 months in California studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of California San Diego where she partook in both Team Racing and yacht racing,
This incredibly talented team know that experience isn't enough, they must train as much as possible over the next six week if they are to effectively challenge the reigning champions from Euromed Arthur Loyd in France. Utilising the UCD High Performance Gym, the team will be working on their strength and conditioning a minimum of two days per week with the gym's trainers. They will also spend every weekend, and evenings during the week on an ad hoc basis, on board their training yacht 'Adrenaline'.
Under the instruction of coaches Nicholas O'Leary, brother of Olympian Peter O'Leary and past Student Yachting World Cup competitors John Downey and Marty O'Leary, the team hope to ensure their best chances of bringing home the gold to Ireland, something which has not been repeated since 2008.
UCD Sailing Team
· Aidan McLaverty (Skipper) – from Belgooly, Co. Cork
· Barry McCartin (Tactician) – from Cushendun, Co. Antrim
· Cathal Leigh Doyle (Headsail Trim) – from Ballincar, Co. Sligo
· Isabella Morehead (Headsail Trim) – from Rochestown, Co. Cork
· Simon Doran (Mainsail Trim) – from Gorey, Co. Wexford
· Alyson Rumball (Pit) - Greystones, Co. Wicklow
· Theo Murphy (Mastman) – from Belfast, Co. Down
· David Fitzgerald (Bowman) – from Westport, Co. Mayo
· Ben Fusco (Shore Team) – from Kinsale, Co. Cork
· Ellen Cahill (Shore Team) – from Westport, Co. Mayo
TEAM RACING – UCD Sailing team travelled to the home of British Team Racing in West Kirby last weekend and came home with one of Ireland's best ever results, a third overall at the British University Sailing Championships.
At the end of March, UCD Sailing Club broke their long drought when their first Team won the IUSA Intervarsity Championship beating Trinity in the Final. This result enabled them to qualify for the British University Sailing Association (BUSA) Championship from the 11-13 April UCD 1 representing IUSA and Ireland at this select 32-team event. This was a closed entry event with over 200 British Teams having to ensure qualification. After 2011, this was only the second time Ireland were lucky enough to be given an automatic single spot allocation. It took place at West Kirby SC, Liverpool known as the home of British Team Racing and the venue for the coveted Wilson Trophy every year. It was superbly run and organised by University of Liverpool.
Travelling to and from by the Dublin-Liverpool ferry, the team assembled on Tuesday ahead of the three intense days racing Wednesday to Friday. Aidan McLaverty travelled from Edinburgh having just won the Scottish SUSA Championship with an Open Team so confidence was high before the first day.
Wednesday dawned to clear skies, sun and beautiful wind. It could not have been any better. The format of racing followed that of a Swiss-League whereby as every race was completed, depending on the result of that race chose your next opponent so that teams of similar win-percentage raced those teams around them continually. Racing soon got underway in typical on-time British fashion. Racing was intense, incredibly tight with the level of competition colossal. For a first day out and adjusting to sailing at a much higher standard of racing that the norm, UCD finished with 4 wins from 7 after Day 1.
Thursday awoke to more perfect conditions. 10-12 knots and an earlier start time meant many more races should be completed. Keen to improve on the day before, UCD in the first seven races were immense; winning starts with ruthless tactics around the course to move their way rapidly up the leader board including notable scalps against Oxford, Southampton, Durham, Swansea and Bristol. They occupied top position after 15 rounds for a period before losses to Cambridge and the other Southampton Day moved them back to 3rd at the end of Day 2. However, a clear marker had been laid down, enough to worry the opposition ahead of Day 3 Finals.
On Friday, the final day of racing, it was not the conditions from the days before. It was much lighter, shiftier, and unpredictable with conditions ever changing. More Swiss-League racing was completed with UCD achieving wins over Oxford and Durham in the morning to ensure their place in the quarter-finals where it was so, so close from 1st place to 10th place.
UCD faced Durham Blue again in their quarter-final and true to form, although losing their first race in the best-of-three encounter, they prevailed 2-1 to move into Semi-Finals. Here they would meet Oxford White, defending champions, a team they had raced twice already having won once and lost once to them already. In the first race, UCD looked comfortable off the start line when a huge right hand-shift put paid to their chances promoting Oxford to a strong 1-2 to take the first race with UCD unable to get close. In the second race, once the course had been re-laid, they raced again and this time unfortunately UCD misread the windward mark. This dropped them from a winning position and again handed it to Oxford. They made no mistake to win the match 2-0 and strike a devastating blow in UCD hearts.
The Final of the BUSA Championship was to be decided between Oxford White and Southampton Turquoise while UCD Ireland took on Southampton Magenta. In the best-of-three encounter, clearly still thinking of the semi-final they lost the first, however in the second and third races they improved, sailed better and won both races to secure the Petite final and 3rd Place in the BUSA Open Championship. Southampton beat Oxford 3-0 in the Final to deservedly take the title they had come so close to in 2011. For UCD, they were left reflecting on what could-have-been having beaten Southampton in Swiss-League. However they should be extremely happy with the overall result. It was the best Irish result ever at this such competitive team racing event; representing UCD and Ireland proudly on and off the water.
A great few days of racing, some of which will never be forgotten by this team but to do it required a lot of hard work over the year. We would like to thank University of Liverpool and West Kirby for hosting such a fantastic event as well as the students that allowed us to stay with them in their homes. Lastly we would like to thank UCD Sport, the rest of UCD SC and all our followers at home for their continuous and unanimous support throughout the few days. It really was a great help, we only wish you could have been there too.
UCD 1 Team:
Simon Doran & Aoife Cooney, Barry McCartin & Eimear McIvor, Aidan McLaverty & Bella Morehead
Results downloadable below
#INLAND WATERWAYS - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has announced the results of studies on the genetic makeup of brown trout stocks in the Suir and Boyne river catchments.
These studies form part of a wider scheme looking at Ireland's larger riverine catchments - assisted by the Office of Public Works, geneticists from UCD and trout anglers across Ireland - and involve a chemical analysis of scale samples from fish known as 'micro-satellite DNA analysis'.
The results from the Suir and Boyne are described by IFI as "quite amazing" and "of significant value" to managing the fisheries in these areas.
In both catchments, the first step saw trout stock samples of young fish examined genetically, and they were shown to be discrete - in other words, fish from any given tributary were found to be genetically different to those from others.
The next step involved samples of adult fish from the main river, contributed by anglers, which were then related to the different tributary genetic types.
Summary results from the Suir and Boyne show that there are respectively seven and five distinct families of trout in the catchment area; that most fish born in tributaries migrate to the main stem till adulthood before returning to their tributaries to spawn; that numbers migrating from individual tributaries are variable, but fish don't cross into adjacent catchment areas; and that there movement of young trout along the river system is "extraordinary", with fish often migrating from near the source to the mouth.
More details on findings for the Suir catchment and Boyne catchment are available on the IFI website.
About the Irish Navy
The Navy maintains a constant presence 24 hours a day, 365 days a year throughout Ireland’s enormous and rich maritime jurisdiction, upholding Ireland’s sovereign rights. The Naval Service is tasked with a variety of roles including defending territorial seas, deterring intrusive or aggressive acts, conducting maritime surveillance, maintaining an armed naval presence, ensuring right of passage, protecting marine assets, countering port blockades; people or arms smuggling, illegal drugs interdiction, and providing the primary diving team in the State.
The Service supports Army operations in the littoral and by sealift, has undertaken supply and reconnaissance missions to overseas peace support operations and participates in foreign visits all over the world in support of Irish Trade and Diplomacy. The eight ships of the Naval Service are flexible and adaptable State assets. Although relatively small when compared to their international counterparts and the environment within which they operate, their patrol outputs have outperformed international norms.
The Irish Naval Service Fleet
The Naval Service is the State's principal seagoing agency. The Naval Service operates jointly with the Army and Air Corps.
The fleet comprises one Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV), three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), two Large Patrol Vessel (LPV) and two Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPV). Each vessel is equipped with state of the art machinery, weapons, communications and navigation systems.
LÉ EITHNE P31
LE Eithne was built in Verlome Dockyard in Cork and was commissioned into service in 1984. She patrols the Irish EEZ and over the years she has completed numerous foreign deployments.
Type Helicopter Patrol Vessel Length 80.0m Beam 12m Draught 4.3m Main Engines 2 X Ruston 12RKC Diesels6, 800 HP2 Shafts Speed 18 knots Range 7000 Nautical Miles @ 15 knots Crew 55 (6 Officers) Commissioned 7 December 1984
LÉ ORLA P41
L.É. Orla was formerly the HMS SWIFT a British Royal Navy patrol vessel stationed in the waters of Hong Kong. She was purchased by the Irish State in 1988. She scored a notable operational success in 1993 when she conducted the biggest drug seizure in the history of the state at the time, with her interception and boarding at sea of the 65ft ketch, Brime.
Type Coastal Patrol Vessel Length 62.6m Beam 10m Draught 2.7m Main Engines 2 X Crossley SEMT- Pielstick Diesels 14,400 HP 2 Shafts Speed 25 + Knots Range 2500 Nautical Miles @ 17 knots Crew 39 (5 Officers)
LÉ CIARA P42
L.É. Ciara was formerly the HMS SWALLOW a British Royal Navy patrol vessel stationed in the waters of Hong Kong. She was purchased by the Irish State in 1988. She scored a notable operational success in Nov 1999 when she conducted the second biggest drug seizure in the history of the state at that time, with her interception and boarding at sea of MV POSIDONIA of the south-west coast of Ireland.
Type Coastal Patrol Vessel Length 62.6m Beam 10m Draught 2.7m Main Engines 2 X Crossley SEMT- Pielstick Diesels 14,400 HP 2 Shafts Speed 25 + Knots Range 2500 Nautical Miles @ 17 knots Crew 39 (5 Officers)
LÉ ROISIN P51
L.É. Roisin (the first of the Roisín class of vessel) was built in Appledore Shipyards in the UK for the Naval Service in 2001. She was built to a design that optimises her patrol performance in Irish waters (which are some of the roughest in the world), all year round. For that reason a greater length overall (78.8m) was chosen, giving her a long sleek appearance and allowing the opportunity to improve the conditions on board for her crew.
Type Long Offshore Patrol Vessel Length 78.84m Beam 14m Draught 3.8m Main Engines 2 X Twin 16 cly V26 Wartsila 26 medium speed Diesels 5000 KW at 1,000 RPM 2 Shafts Speed 23 knots Range 6000 Nautical Miles @ 15 knots Crew 44 (6 Officers) Commissioned 18 September 2001
LÉ NIAMH P52
L.É. Niamh (the second of the Róisín class) was built in Appledore Shipyard in the UK for the Naval Service in 2001. She is an improved version of her sister ship, L.É.Roisin
Type Long Offshore Patrol Vessel Length 78.84m Beam 14m Draught 3.8m Main Engines 2 X Twin 16 cly V26 Wartsila 26 medium speed Diesels 5000 KW at 1,000 RPM 2 Shafts Speed 23 knots Range 6000 Nautical Miles @ 15 knots Crew 44 (6 Officers) Commissioned 18 September 2001
LÉ SAMUEL BECKETT P61
LÉ Samuel Beckett is an Offshore Patrol Vessel built and fitted out to the highest international standards in terms of safety, equipment fit, technological innovation and crew comfort. She is also designed to cope with the rigours of the North-East Atlantic.
Type Offshore Patrol Vessel Length 90.0m Beam 14m Draught 3.8m Main Engines 2 x Wärtsilä diesel engines and Power Take In, 2 x shafts, 10000kw Speed 23 knots Range 6000 Nautical Miles @ 15 knots Crew 44 (6 Officers)
LÉ JAMES JOYCE P62
LÉ James Joyce is an Offshore Patrol Vessel and represents an updated and lengthened version of the original RÓISÍN Class OPVs which were also designed and built to the Irish Navy specifications by Babcock Marine Appledore and she is truly a state of the art ship. She was commissioned into the naval fleet in September 2015. Since then she has been constantly engaged in Maritime Security and Defence patrolling of the Irish coast. She has also deployed to the Defence Forces mission in the Mediterranean from July to end of September 2016, rescuing 2491 persons and recovering the bodies of 21 deceased
Type Offshore Patrol Vessel Length 90.0m Beam 14m Draught 3.8m Main Engines 2 x Wärtsilä diesel engines and Power Take In, 2 x shafts, 10000kw Speed 23 knots Range 6000 Nautical Miles @ 15 knots Crew 44 (6 Officers)
LÉ WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS P63
L.É. William Butler Yeats was commissioned into the naval fleet in October 2016. Since then she has been constantly engaged in Maritime Security and Defence patrolling of the Irish coast. She has also deployed to the Defence Forces mission in the Mediterranean from July to October 2017, rescuing 704 persons and recovering the bodies of three deceased.
Type Offshore Patrol Vessel Length 90.0m Beam 14m Draught 3.8m Main Engines 2 x Wärtsilä diesel engines and Power Take In, 2 x shafts, 10000kw Speed 23 knots Range 6000 Nautical Miles @ 15 knots Crew 44 (6 Officers)
LÉ GEORGE BERNARD SHAW P64
LÉ George Bernard Shaw (pennant number P64) is the fourth and final ship of the P60 class vessels built for the Naval Service in Babcock Marine Appledore, Devon. The ship was accepted into State service in October 2018, and, following a military fit-out, commenced Maritime Defence and Security Operations at sea.
Type Offshore Patrol Vessel Length 90.0m Beam 14m Draught 3.8m Main Engines 2 x Wärtsilä diesel engines and Power Take In, 2 x shafts, 10000kw Speed 23 knots Range 6000 Nautical Miles @ 15 knots Crew 44 (6 Officers)
Ship information courtesy of the Defence Forces
Irish Navy FAQs
The Naval Service is the Irish State's principal seagoing agency with "a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements". It is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles.
The Naval Service is based in Ringaskiddy, Cork harbour, with headquarters in the Defence Forces headquarters in Dublin.
The Naval Service provides the maritime component of the Irish State's defence capabilities and is the State's principal seagoing agency. It "protects Ireland's interests at and from the sea, including lines of communication, fisheries and offshore resources" within the Irish exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Naval Service operates jointly with the Army and Air Corps as part of the Irish defence forces.
The Naval Service was established in 1946, replacing the Marine and Coastwatching Service set up in 1939. It had replaced the Coastal and Marine Service, the State's first marine service after independence, which was disbanded after a year. Its only ship was the Muirchú, formerly the British armed steam yacht Helga, which had been used by the Royal Navy to shell Dublin during the 1916 Rising. In 1938, Britain handed over the three "treaty" ports of Cork harbour, Bere haven and Lough Swilly.
The Naval Service has nine ships - one Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV), three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), two Large Patrol Vessel (LPV) and two Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPV). Each vessel is equipped with State of the art machinery, weapons, communications and navigation systems.
The ships' names are prefaced with the title of Irish ship or "long Éireannach" (LE). The older ships bear Irish female names - LÉ Eithne, LÉ Orla, LÉ Ciara, LÉ Roisín, and LÉ Niamh. The newer ships, named after male Irish literary figures, are LÉ Samuel Beckett, LÉ James Joyce, LÉ William Butler Yeats and LÉ George Bernard Shaw.
Yes. The 76mm Oto Melara medium calibre naval armament is the most powerful weapon in the Naval Services arsenal. The 76mm is "capable of engaging naval targets at a range of up to 17km with a high level of precision, ensuring that the Naval Service can maintain a range advantage over all close-range naval armaments and man-portable weapon systems", according to the Defence Forces.
The Fleet Operational Readiness Standards and Training (FORST) unit is responsible for the coordination of the fleet needs. Ships are maintained at the Mechanical Engineering and Naval Dockyard Unit at Ringaskiddy, Cork harbour.
The helicopters are designated as airborne from initial notification in 15 minutes during daylight hours, and 45 minutes at night. The aircraft respond to emergencies at sea, on inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains and cover the 32 counties. They can also assist in flooding, major inland emergencies, intra-hospital transfers, pollution, and can transport offshore firefighters and ambulance teams. The Irish Coast Guard volunteers units are expected to achieve a 90 per cent response time of departing from the station house in ten minutes from notification during daylight and 20 minutes at night. They are also expected to achieve a 90 per cent response time to the scene of the incident in less than 60 minutes from notification by day and 75 minutes at night, subject to geographical limitations.
The Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service (FOCNS) is Commodore Michael Malone. The head of the Defence Forces is a former Naval Service flag officer, now Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett – appointed in 2015 and the first Naval Service flag officer to hold this senior position. The Flag Officer oversees Naval Operations Command, which is tasked with the conduct of all operations afloat and ashore by the Naval Service including the operations of Naval Service ships. The Naval Operations Command is split into different sections, including Operations HQ and Intelligence and Fishery Section.
The Intelligence and Fishery Section is responsible for Naval Intelligence, the Specialist Navigation centre, the Fishery Protection supervisory and information centre, and the Naval Computer Centre. The Naval Intelligence Cell is responsible for the collection, collation and dissemination of naval intelligence. The Navigation Cell is the naval centre for navigational expertise.
The Fishery Monitoring Centre provides for fishery data collection, collation, analysis and dissemination to the Naval Service and client agencies, including the State's Sea Fisheries Protection Agency. The centre also supervises fishery efforts in the Irish EEZ and provides data for the enhanced effectiveness of fishery protection operations, as part of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. The Naval Computer Centre provides information technology (IT) support service to the Naval Service ashore and afloat.
This headquarters includes specific responsibility for the Executive/Operations Branch duties. The Naval Service Operations Room is a coordination centre for all NS current Operations. The Naval Service Reserve Staff Officer is responsible for the supervision, regulation and training of the reserve. The Diving section is responsible for all aspects of Naval diving and the provision of a diving service to the Naval Service and client agencies. The Ops Security Section is responsible for the coordination of base security and the coordination of all shore-based security parties operating away from the Naval base. The Naval Base Comcen is responsible for the running of a communications service. Boat transport is under the control of Harbour Master Naval Base, who is responsible for the supervision of berthage at the Naval Base and the provision of a boat service, including the civilian manned ferry service from Haulbowline.
Naval Service ships have undertaken trade and supply missions abroad, and personnel have served as peacekeepers with the United Nations. In 2015, Naval Service ships were sent on rotation to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean as part of a bi-lateral arrangement with Italy, known as Operation Pontus. Naval Service and Army medical staff rescued some 18,000 migrants, either pulling people from the sea or taking them off small boats, which were often close to capsizing having been towed into open water and abandoned by smugglers. Irish ships then became deployed as part of EU operations in the Mediterranean, but this ended in March 2019 amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the EU.
Essentially, you have to be Irish, young (less than 32), in good physical and mental health and with normal vision. You must be above 5'2″, and your weight should be in keeping with your age.
Yes, women have been recruited since 1995. One of the first two female cadets, Roberta O'Brien from the Glen of Aherlow in Co Tipperary, became its first female commander in September 2020. Sub Lieutenant Tahlia Britton from Donegal also became the first female diver in the navy's history in the summer of 2020.
A naval cadet enlists for a cadetship to become an officer in the Defence Forces. After successfully completing training at the Naval Service College, a cadet is commissioned into the officer ranks of the Naval Service as a Ensign or Sub Lieutenant.
A cadet trains for approximately two years duration divided into different stages. The first year is spent in military training at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Cork. The second-year follows a course set by the National Maritime College of Ireland course. At the end of the second year and on completion of exams, and a sea term, the cadets will be qualified for the award of a commission in the Permanent Defence Force as Ensign.
The Defence Forces say it is looking for people who have "the ability to plan, prioritise and organise", to "carefully analyse problems, in order to generate appropriate solutions, who have "clear, concise and effective communication skills", and the ability to "motivate others and work with a team". More information is on the 2020 Qualifications Information Leaflet.
When you are 18 years of age or over and under 26 years of age on the date mentioned in the notice for the current competition, the officer cadet competition is held annually and is the only way for potential candidates to join the Defence Forces to become a Naval Service officer. Candidates undergo psychometric and fitness testing, an interview and a medical exam.
The NMCI was built beside the Naval Service base at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, and was the first third-level college in Ireland to be built under the Government's Public-Private Partnership scheme. The public partners are the Naval Service and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the private partner is Focus Education.
A Naval Service recruit enlists for general service in the "Other Ranks" of the Defence Forces. After successfully completing the initial recruit training course, a recruit passes out as an Ordinary Seaman and will then go onto their branch training course before becoming qualified as an Able Body sailor in the Naval Service.
No formal education qualifications are required to join the Defence Forces as a recruit. You need to satisfy the interview board and the recruiting officer that you possess a sufficient standard of education for service in the Defence Forces.
Recruit training is 18 weeks in duration and is designed to "develop a physically fit, disciplined and motivated person using basic military and naval skills" to "prepare them for further training in the service. Recruits are instilled with the Naval Service ethos and the values of "courage, respect, integrity and loyalty".
On the progression up through the various ranks, an Able Rate will have to complete a number of career courses to provide them with training to develop their skills in a number of areas, such as leadership and management, administration and naval/military skills. The first of these courses is the Naval Service Potential NCO course, followed by the Naval Service Standard NCO course and the Naval Service senior NCO course. This course qualifies successful candidates of Petty officer (or Senior Petty Officer) rank to fill the rank of Chief Petty Officer upwards. The successful candidate may also complete and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership, Management and Naval Studies in partnership with Cork Institute of Technology.
Pay has long been an issue for just the Naval Service, at just over 1,000 personnel. Cadets and recruits are required to join the single public service pension scheme, which is a defined benefit scheme, based on career-average earnings. For current rates of pay, see the Department of Defence website.
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