#FreedomShip - An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Councillor Cormac Devlin, cordially invites the public to a ceremony at 13.00hrs today (Friday, 31 March) to mark the conferral of an Honourary Freedom of Entry to the County for the Irish Naval Service.

The Award is in recognition of its humanitarian service on behalf of the people of Ireland and the European Union and to acknowledge the duties undertaken by the Irish Naval Service as part of Operation Pontus. The Award will be accepted by the crew of the LÉ Eithne on behalf of the Irish Naval Service.

As previously reported on Afloat, the LÉ Eithne crew will accept the Freedom of Entry honour at a ceremony held in Dún Laoghaire Harbour Plaza at lunchtime today. There will be live music and a short parade by the Army Band and the crew of the LÉ Eithne.

The event will be mc’d by Mary Kennedy from RTÉ. Following the event the Naval Services will also be offering the public guided tours of the LÉ Eithne this afternoon and evening.

Afloat adds that this will be an opportunity to board the flagship Helicopter Patrol Vessel whose adopted homeport is Dun Laoghaire. The HPV is currently berthed at St. Micheals Pier in view of the Harbour Plaza. 

The An Cathaoirleach added he would be delighted for the public to attend this very special event in the year of the Harbour's Bicentennial celebrations.