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Displaying items by tag: World Championships,

# ROWING: The Ireland senior men’s crews at the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria will finish their programmes competing in C and D Finals.

Lightweight single sculler Niall Kenny finished a safe second in his C/D semi-final, but the lightweight pair finished third of three in theirs and with the last crew being consigned to the D Final, this will be how they finish their regatta.

Paul O’Donovan won his C/D Semi-Final of the junior single scull. The Skibbereen man, who came within a tenth of a second of qualifying for the A/B Semi-Finals earlier in the day, was an emphatic winner from Peter Purcell Gilpin of Zimbabwe.

In the women’s junior single, Kate O’Brien finished fifth in her C/D Semi-Final. She tracked the leaders down the course in fourth for most of the race but was pushed into fifth near the end.

World Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Day Three (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Pair – C/D Semi-Finals (First Two to C Final, One to D Final; Only Three Crews Competed): 1 Russia 6:54.46, 2 Japan 6:57.50; 3 Ireland (M O’Donovan, A English) 7:00.77.

Junior Pair – Repechage Four (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C/D Semi-Final): 1 Ireland (C Black, J Cassells) 6:53.11, 2 Czech Republic 6:53.55; 3 Spain 6:56.80, 4 Ukraine 7:19.31, 5 Denmark 7:28.63.

Lightweight Single Sculls – C/D Semi-Finals (First Three to C Final; rest to D Final): 1 Germany 7:16.86, 2 Ireland (N Kenny) 7:19.67, 3 Japan 7:20.36.

Junior Single Sculls – Quarter-Final Two (First Three to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C/D Semi-Final): 1 Azerbaijan 7:08.77, 2 Germany 7:11.13, 3 Belarus 7:12.37; 4 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:12.46, 5 Austria 7:27.00, 6 Denmark 7:34.99. C/D Semi-Finals (First Three to C Final; rest to D Final): 1 Ireland (O’Donovan) 7:25.81, 2 Zimbabwe 7:27.99, 3 United States 7:31.97.

Women

Junior Quadruple Sculls – Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 New Zealand 6:40.77, 2 United States 6:42.25, 3 Germany 6:42.46, 4 China 6:43.28, 5 Ireland (K Cromie, H Shinnick, B Jacques, B Walsh) 6:51.54, 6 Greece 6:55.84.

Junior Single Sculls – Quarter Finals (First Three to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C/D Semi-Final): 1 Romania 8:02.92, 2 Sweden 8:07.68, 3 Poland 8:09.84; 4 Russia 8:13.92, 5 Ireland (K O’Brien) 8:17.69, 6 Tunisia 8:29.53. C/D Semi-Finals (First Three to C Final; rest to D Final): 1 Czech Republic 8:18.03, 2 Brazil 8:21.39, 3 United States 8:24.31, 4 Tunisia 8:27.27, 5 Ireland (O’Brien) 8:29.11, 6 Bulgaria 8:33.57.

Lightweight Single Sculls – A/B Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 United States 7:49.85, 2 Austria 7:49.92, 3 Belarus 7:50.25; 4 Italy 7:54.51, 5 China 8:00.95, 6 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:14.64.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Claire Lambe’s hopes of qualifying for the A Final of the lightweight single sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria fell away in the third quarter of her semi-final today. The Dubliner was competitive to halfway, although by this stage it was clear that the United States, Austria and Belarus had a strong hold on the three qualification places, though China’s Wang Miao was still pushing in fourth. Lambe had been holding off Elisabetta Sancassani of Italy in a battle for fifth, but the Italian pushed through her and later passed the Chinese as well. Lambe eventually finished sixth.

The Ireland junior women’s quadruple are also set for tomorrow’s B Final (places seven to 12). At the head of the field in their semi-final New Zealand, the United States and Germany took the A Final places, with China joining Ireland in the B Final after being pushed into fourth. The Ireland crew of Katie Cromie, Hilary Shinnick, Bridget Jacques and Bernadette Walsh won their private battle with Greece for fifth by virtue of a good finish.

World Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Day Three (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Pair – Repechage Four (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C/D Semi-Final): 1 Ireland (C Black, J Cassells) 6:53.11, 2 Czech Republic 6:53.55; 3 Spain 6:56.80, 4 Ukraine 7:19.31, 5 Denmark 7:28.63.

Junior Single Sculls – Quarter-Final Two (First Three to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C/D Semi-Final): 1 Azerbaijan 7:08.77, 2 Germany 7:11.13, 3 Belarus 7:12.37; 4 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:12.46, 5 Austria 7:27.00, 6 Denmark 7:34.99.

Women

Junior Quadruple Sculls – Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 New Zealand 6:40.77, 2 United States 6:42.25, 3 Germany 6:42.46, 4 China 6:43.28, 5 Ireland (K Cromie, H Shinnick, B Jacques, B Walsh) 6:51.54, 6 Greece 6:55.84.

Junior Single Sculls – Quarter Finals (First Three to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C/D Semi-Final): 1 Romania 8:02.92, 2 Sweden 8:07.68, 3 Poland 8:09.84; 4 Russia 8:13.92, 5 Ireland (K O’Brien) 8:17.69, 6 Tunisia 8:29.53.

Lightweight Single Sculls – A/B Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 United States 7:49.85, 2 Austria 7:49.92, 3 Belarus 7:50.25; 4 Italy 7:54.51, 5 China 8:00.95, 6 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:14.64.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Claire Lambe produced a good performance in her repechage of the lightweight single sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria today. The 22-year-old Dubliner needed to finish in the top two to qualify for the A/B semi-finals in a race which included Fabiana Beltrame of Brazil, the reigning World Champion, and Leonie Pless of Germany, a World Cup silver medallist in Lucerne this year. Lambe moved into second, over three lengths clear of Pless, by 1250 metres and pushed Beltrame over the rest of the race, although the Brazilian – who competed in the Olympics in the lightweight double sculls – did open up a gap by the finish.

Niall Kenny could not make it into the top three of his lightweight single sculls quarter final. His fourth-place finish behind Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia, sends him to the C/D semi-finals.

Mark O’Donovan and Anthony English finished a disappointing fourth and last  in their repechage of the men’s lightweight pair. Two crews qualified for the A/B Semi-finals, and Canada and Italy fought it out for the lead. Ireland were not able to make it into this set, but held third until they were passed coming up to the line by Hong Kong.    

World Senior and Junior Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Pair – Repechage Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Canada 7:00.48, 2 Italy 7:01.81, 3 Hong Kong 7:06.93, 4 Ireland (M O’Donovan, A English) 7:07.40.

Junior Pair – Heat Three (Winner directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechages): 1 Romania 6:46.98, 2 Germany 6:53.83, 3 Poland 6:58.00, 4 Ireland (C Black, J Cassells) 6:59.13, 5 Estonia 7:13.74.

Lightweight Single Scull – Quarter Final Two (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals) 1 Italy 7:16.04, 2 Slovakia 7:20.77, 3 Slovenia 7:21.94; 4 Ireland (N Kenny) 7:24.42, 5 Hong Kong 7:32.44, 6 Japan 7:37.21.

Junior Single Scull – Heat Four (First Four to Quarter-Finals): 1 China (Ganggang Li) 7:08,24, 2 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:13.05, 3 Zimbabwe (P Purcell Gilpin) 7:14.77, 4 Estonia (A Luenekund) 7:22.12; 5 Japan 7:27.06.

Women

Junior Quadruple – Repechage One (First Three to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C Final): 1 Germany 6:38.45, 2 Italy 6:43.88, 3 Ireland (K Cromie, H Shinnick, B Jacques, B Walsh) 6:46.34; 4 Denmark 6:47.68, 5 Ukraine 7:02.24.

Lightweight Single Scull – Repechage Four (First Two to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C/D Semi-Final): 1 Brazil (F Beltrame) 8:02.62, 2 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:05.35; 3 Germany 8:09.65, 4 Japan 8:10.58, 5 Mexico 8:26.49.

Junior Single Scull – Heat Four (Four Guaranteed Quarter-Finals; fastest of rest to Quarter-Finals; rest to Final E): 1 Belarus (K Staraselets) 7:57.89, 2 Chile (N Sanchez Rojas) 8:09.53, 3 Ireland (K O’Brien) 8:13.90, 4 Ukraine (D Serebrianska) 8:16.83; 5 Uganda 10:14.48.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: The Ireland junior women’s quadruple of Katie Cromie, Hilary Shinnick, Bridget Jacques and stroke woman Bernadette Walsh showed great character to take third in their repechage and qualify for the semi-finals of the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria today.

Three places were available, and in the early stages it seemed that eventual winners Germany would be joined by Italy and Denmark. Behind them the young Ireland crew were battling with Ukraine for fourth. But by halfway the Irish, roared on by their support, were closing in on Denmark. They passed the Danes in the next 500 metres and fought off their attempts to regain third in the final quarter.

All but Cromie in the Ireland crew are 17 years of age.

World Senior and Junior Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Pair – Heat Three (Winner directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechages): 1 Romania 6:46.98, 2 Germany 6:53.83, 3 Poland 6:58.00, 4 Ireland (C Black, J Cassells) 6:59.13, 5 Estonia 7:13.74.

Junior Single Scull – Heat Four (First Four to Quarter-Finals): 1 China (G Li) 7:08,24, 2 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:13.05, 3 Zimbabwe (P Purcell Gilpin) 7:14.77, 4 Estonia (A Luenekund) 7:22.12; 5 Japan 7:27.06.

Women

Junior Quadrple – Repechage One (First Three to A/B Semi-Final; rest to C Final): 1 Germany 6:38.45, 2 Italy 6:43.88, 3 Ireland (K Cromie, H Shinnick, B Jacques, B Walsh) 6:46.34; 4 Denmark 6:47.68, 5 Ukraine 7:02.24.

Junior Single Scull – Heat Four (Four Guaranteed Quarter-Finals; fastest of rest to Quarter-Finals; rest to Final E): 1 Belarus (K Staraselets) 7:57.89, 2 Chile (N Sanchez Rojas) 8:09.53, 3 Ireland (K O’Brien) 8:13.90, 4 Ukraine (D Serebrianska) 8:16.83; 5 Uganda 10:14.48.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Paul O’Donovan took second in his heat of the junior single sculls to ease into the quarter-finals of the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria. China’s Ganggang Li ran away with the race. Four of the five crews qualified, but the big Chinese sprinted away from the rest and was never caught. O’Donovan came closest, but even the pugnacious Skibbereen man could not wrest the lead from Li Ganggang. Zimbabwe and Estonia took third and fourth, while Japan, in fifth, lost out.

Kate O’Brien will also compete in the quarter-finals of the junior women’s single scull. A good scull in her heat by the St Michael’s athlete saw her take third place behind Belarus and Chile and ahead of Ukraine, with all four qualifying.

World Senior and Junior Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Pair – Heat Three (Winner directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechages): 1 Romania 6:46.98, 2 Germany 6:53.83, 3 Poland 6:58.00, 4 Ireland (C Black, J Cassells) 6:59.13, 5 Estonia 7:13.74.

Junior Single Scull – Heat Four: 1 China (G Li) 7:08,24, 2 Ireland (P O’Donovan) 7:13.05, 3 Zimbabwe (P Purcell Gilpin) 7:14.77, 4 Estonia (A Luenekund) 7:22.12; 5 Japan 7:27.06.

Women

Junior Single Scull – Heat Four (Four Guaranteed Quarter-Finals; fastest of rest to Quarter-Finals; rest to Final E): 1 Belarus (K Staraselets) 7:57.89, 2 Chile (N Sanchez Rojas) 8:09.53, 3 Ireland (K O’Brien) 8:13.90, 4 Ukraine (D Serebrianska) 8:16.83; 5 Uganda 10:14.48.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Ireland’s Chris Black and Joel Cassells must negotiate a repechage to make the A/B semi-finals of the junior men’s pair at the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria. The Bann crew found themselves in the fastest heat of four this morning and finished fourth. Romania set the pace and won in a quick time of six minutes 46.98 seconds despite the challenge of Germany and Ireland over the first half of the race. Poland took over from Ireland in third in the closing stages and held off a late push by Black and Cassells.  

World Senior and Junior Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Junior Pair – Heat Three (Winner directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechages): 1 Romania 6:46.98, 2 Germany 6:53.83, 3 Poland 6:58.00, 4 Ireland (C Black, J Cassells) 6:59.13, 5 Estonia 7:13.74.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Niall Kenny claimed third place in his heat of the lightweight single sculls to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Senior and Junior Rowing Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria today. The Galway man slotted in behind Hungary and Poland and ahead of Korea to guarantee himself meaningful action tomorrow.

The lightweight men’s pair finished fifth and last in a fascinating heat. Just one crew moved directly into the semi-finals. Germany looked like that crew until the final 500 metres, when they folded under pressure from the United States, who won, and Denmark, who took second.

Claire Lambe was in an extremely difficult heat of the lightweight single sculls. Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece was fresh from claiming bronze at the Olympic Games in the lightweight double scull – and proved fresh in competition as well, giving no encouragement to ther opposition as she grabbed hold of the one direct qualification place for the semi-finals. Lambe could not shift out of fifth and will compete in a repechage tomorrow.  

World Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Pair – Heat Three (Winner directly to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to repechages): 1 United States 6:49.02, 2 Denmark 6:49.61, 3 Germany 6:53.94, 4 Serbia 6:59.78, 5 Ireland (M O’Donovan, A English) 7:02.51.

Lightweight Single Scull – Heat Four (First Three and fastest losers to Quarter-Finals): 1 Hungary (P Galambos) 7:14.16, 2 Poland (B Lesniak) 7:15.33, 3 Ireland (N Kenny) 7:24.91; 4 Korea 7:31.27.

Women

Lightweight Single Scull – Heat Three: (Winner directly to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to repechages): 1 Greece (A Tsiavou) 7:49.89; 2 Belarus 7:52.99, 3 United States 7:54.22, 4 Australia 7:58.28, 5 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:06.07, 6 Kuwait 9:34.72

Junior Quadruple Scull – Heat Two (First Two to Semi-Final A/B, rest to repechage): 1 Romania 6:36.54, 2 New Zealand 6:39.41; 5 Ireland 7:00.39.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Ireland began their campaign in the World Senior and Junior Rowing Championships today at Plovdiv in Bulgaria. The senior programme is for non-Olympic events. The Ireland team has been boosted by the inclusion of Claire Lambe in the lightweight single scull.  The first Ireland crew in action was the junior women’s quadruple, which finished fifth and must compete in a repechage tomorrow. The were not helped by catching a crab (missing a stroke) in the middle of the race.

World Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Day One (Irish interest)

Women

Junior Quadruple Scull – Heat Two (First Two to Semi-Final A/B, rest to repechage): 1 Romania 6:36.54, 2 New Zealand 6:39.41; 5 Ireland 7:00.39.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Ireland will field just two senior crews at next week’s World Senior and Junior Rowing Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria. The lightweight men’s pair of Mark O’Donovan and Anthony English will be joined by lightweight single sculler Niall Kenny. The senior events are for crews in non-Olympic events.

The four junior crews representing Ireland will be a women’s quadruple scull, the men’s pair of Chris Black and Joel Cassells and single scullers Paul O’Donovan and Kate O’Brien.

Competition at the Championships begins on Wednesday and runs through to Sunday.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING; Four Ireland crews have been chosen to represent Ireland at junior level at the World Senior and Junior Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria in August. The men's single of Paul O'Donovan and the pair of Joel Cassells and Chris Black will be joined by Kate O'Brien in the junior women's single and a junior women's quadruple. The teams for the Coupe de la Jeunesse and the Home Internationals have also been picked. 

JUNIOR TEAMS
JUNIOR WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS – PLOVDIV, BULGARIA
JM1X Paul O’Donovan (Skibbereen RC)
Coach: Teddy O’Donovan
JW 1x Kate O’Brien (St.Michael’s RC)
Coach : HP Team
JM2‐ Joel Cassells (Bann RC)
Chris Black (Bann RC)
Coach: Seamus Reynolds
JW4X‐ Bridget Jacques (Belfast Boat Club)
Hilary Shinnick (Fermoy RC)
Katie Cromie (Portora BC)
Bernadette Walsh (Skibbereen RC )
Coaches: Derek Holland , Nathan Adams
Team Manager: Martin McElroy
Lead Coach : Derek Holland
Details regarding the Junior World Rowing Championships can be found at
http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2012‐world‐rowing‐senior‐and‐juniorchampionships
COUPE DE LA JEUNESSE – BANYOLES, SPAIN
JM4‐ Henry Millar (Portora BC)
Lloyd Seaman (Portora BC)
Finnion Tolan (St. Joseph’s RC)
James Egan (St. Joseph’s RC)
Coaches: Derek Holland , David Ewart
JM2X Andrew Griffin (Neptune RC)
David Quinlan (Castleconnell BC)
Coaches: John Holland
JM4X Aodhan Burns (Skibbereen RC)
John Mitchell (Lee RC)
Jack Casey (Shandon BC)
Paddy Hegarty (Skibbereen RC)
Coaches: John Holland , Teddy O’Donovan
JW4x Aileen Crowley (Muckross RC)
Lucie Litvack (Belfast Boat Club)
Sarah Allen (Bann RC)
Sarah Higgins (Cork BC)
Coach: Nathan Adams
JW2‐ Brooke Edgar (Bann RC)
Aoife Cooper (Muckross RC)
Coach: Seamus Reynolds
Team Manager: Clare Cox
Lead Coach: Derek Holland
Details regarding the Coupe de la Jeunesse can be found at
http://www.cebanyoles.cat/en‐us/competicio/rem2012/inici.aspx
http://www.couperowing.org/
HOME COUNTRIES REGATTA
JM4‐ / JM 8+ William Yeomans (Commercial RC)
Colm O’Riada (Commercial RC)
Gary Thornton (Portora BC)
Chris Alcorn (Bann RC)
JM4+/ JM8+ Eric McEvoy (St.Josephs RC)
Aiden Kinneen (St.Josephs RC)
Kevin Keohane (Presentation College)
Niall Crowley (Presentation College)
JM2‐ Shane Walsh (Galway RC)
Alan Murtagh (Galway RC)
Colm Connelly – Cox (St. Joseph’s RC)
Coaches: John Walsh, Jamie Bradley
JM4X‐ Matthew Ryan (Skibbereen RC)
Andy Harrington (Shandon RC)
Daniel Buckley (Lee RC)
Paudie Leonard (Skibbereen RC)
Coach : David O’Donovan
JM2X Andrew Bell (Colaiste Iognaid)
Patrick Boomer (Methodist College )
JM1X David O’Malley (St.Michaels’s RC)
Coach: James Boomer
JW4‐ / JW8+ Ruth Gilligan (Shannon RC)
Lauren McHugh (Shannon RC)
Ruth Cummins (Galway RC)
Kellie Wade (Galway RC)
JW4+ / JW8+ Hanna McCarthy (St.Michael’s RC)
Hanna O’Sullivan (St.Michael’s RC)
Emily Hutchinson (Bann RC)
Fiona Murtagh (Galway RC)
JW2‐ Kara O’Connor (Muckross RC)
Jasmine English (Methodist College)
Affric O’Regan Cox (Galway RC)
Coach: Iain Cumiskey, Michael O’Callaghan
JW 4x Leonie Hamel (Cork BC)
Megan McLaughlin (Cork BC)
Rosin Merz (Shandon RC)
Laura Coleman (Shandon BC)
Coach: David O’Donovan
JW 2x Kathrine Cremin (Muckross RC)
Sadbh Cassidy (Neptune RC)
JW 1x Ella Ciallis (Skibbereen RC)
Coach: Cathal Moynihan
Team manager: Lisa O’Callaghan
Published in Rowing
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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.