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# ROWING: Ireland’s two men’s crews at the World Under-23 Championships in Lithuania could not force their way into the top three in their semi-finals and will compete in B Finals tomorrow. The lightweight pair of Jonny Mitchell and Shane O’Donovan finished fourth in a fast race and the open weight four were fifth, off the pace in the second half of their semi-final.

World Under-23 Rowing Championships, Day Three (Irish interest)

Men

Four – Semi-Final One (First Three To A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Germany 6:07.72, 2 Australia 6:09.42, 3 United States 6:11.14; 4 Canada 6:15.15, 5 Ireland (E Mullarkey, S O’Connor, F Manning, T Lynam) 6:24.15, 6 Ukraine 6:25.91

Lightweight Pair – Semi-Final One (First Three To A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Italy 6:57.34, 2 Germany 7:00.08, 3 Hong Kong 7:00.45; 4 Ireland 7:13.55, 5 Lithuania 7:24.78, 6 United States 7:29.70.

Women

Lightweight Single Scull – Repechage Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:19.32, 2 Israel 8:23.22; 3 Czech Republic 8:28.19, 4 United States 8:35.35.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Claire Lambe won her repechage at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships in Lithuania to become the fifth of the five Ireland crews to qualify for the A/B semi-finals. The Dubliner led down the course and had almost four seconds to spare over Chen Oshri of Israel, who also qualified.

World Under-23 Rowing Championships, Day Three (Irish interest)

Women

Lightweight Single Scull – Repechage Three (First Two to A/B Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:19.32, 2 Israel 8:23.22; 3 Czech Republic 8:28.19, 4 United States 8:35.35.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Two more Ireland boats moved into the semi-finals of the World Under-23 Rowing Championships in Trakai in Lithuania today. The lightweight pair of Jonny Mitchell and Shane O’Driscoll won their repechage by leading virtually all the way, while the men’s four came close to matching the feat, finishing second. They won a battle with Norway but were pipped by Ukraine, who mounted a surprise late charge, having been in third for much of the 2,000 metres. All three crews qualified.

World Under-23 Championships, Trakai, Lithuania, Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Four – Repechage (First Three to A/B Semi-Final): 1 Ukraine 6:12.88, 2 Ireland (E Mullarkey, S O’Connor, F Manning, T Lynam) 6:16.64, 3 Norway 6:18.89; 4 Lithuania 6:24.74.

Lightweight Pair – Repechage (First Three to A/B Semi-Final): Ireland (S O’Driscoll, J Mitchell) 6:51.24, 2 Switzerland 6:51.89, 3 Lithuania 6:55.97; 4 Croatia 7:03.13

Women

Double Scull – Heat Three (First Three directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechage): 1 Austria (M Lobnig, L Farthofer) 7:24.99, 2 France 7:29.62, Ireland (L D’Urso, H Nixon) 7:31.90; 4 Romania 7:42.91, 5 Croatia 7:47.31

Single Scull – Heat One (First Two Directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechage): 1 Denmark (R Quist) 7:49.16, 2 Ireland (L Dilleen) 7:54.72; 3 United States 7:59.12, 4 Belgium 8:05.15, 5 France 8:08.88.

Lightweight Single Scull – Heat One (First directly to A/B Semi-Final, rest to repechage): 1 Cyprus (A Ioannou) 8:07.34, 2 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:12.84.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: The Ireland double of Laura D’Urso and Holly Nixon qualified for the semi-finals of the World Under-23 Championships by finishing third in their heat this morning in Trakai in Lithuania. The Irish chased eventual winners Austria down the course, and filled second until a late challenge by France pushed them into third.

Claire Lambe must compete in a repechage after finishing second in a fight for the one qualification place with Anna Ioannou of Cyprus in their heat of the lightweight single scull. The Dubliner refused to let Ioannou get comfortable in the lead and passed her going into the final quarter, but the Cypriot struck back and retook the lead.

World Under-23 Championships, Trakai, Lithuania, Day Two (Irish interest)

Women

Double Scull – Heat Three (First Three directly to A/B Semi-Final; rest to repechage): 1 Austria (M Lobnig, L Farthofer) 7:24.99, 2 France 7:29.62, Ireland (L D’Urso, H Nixon) 7:31.90; 4 Romania 7:42.91, 5 Croatia 7:47.31

Lightweight Single Scull – Heat One (First directly to A/B Semi-Final, rest to repechage): 1 Cyprus (A Ioannou) 8:07.34, 2 Ireland (C Lambe) 8:12.84.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Ireland’s lightweight pair of Shane O’Driscoll and Jonathan Mitchell came within a third of a second of direct qualification for the semi-finals at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships in Trakai in Lithuania today. In a close finish to a competitive heat, Argentina pipped them for the third qualification place. The Ireland men’s four also finished fourth in their heat and will join the pair in tomorrow’s repechages. Both crews should make it through, as three crews qualify from a line-up of four in both repechages.

World Under-23 Championships, Trakai, Lithuania, Day One (Irish interest)

Men

Four – Heat One (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals, rest to Repechage): 4 Ireland (E Mullarkey, S O’Connor, F Manning, T Lynam) 6:20.49.

Lightweight Pair – Heat One (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals, rest to Repechage): 4 Ireland (S O’Driscoll, J Mitchell) 6:58.62.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: A tremendous performance by a crew including three lightweights won lots of praise but was not enough to see the UCC/London Rowing Club progress in the Queen Mother for open quadruple sculls at Henley Royal Regatta this morning. The headwind conditions did not suit the crew of Rowing Ireland lightweights Niall Kenny, Anthony English, Mark O’Donovan and English heavyweigt Henry Pelly, but they got off to a great start and headed Canadian opponents Victoria City. Even when passed, the men in green came back at their bigger rivals and drew level.The Canadian crew then establised a lead but could not break away until a push in the last 10 to 15 strokes which saw them win by one and three-quarter lengths.

Victoria City were surpise winners on Friday against Danmarks Rocenter, a selected (seeded) crew.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Four (Irish interest):

Queen Mother (Quadruple Sculls, Open): Victoria City Rowing Club, Canada bt UCC/London RC (N Kenny, A English, H Pelly, M O’Donovan) 1¾ l, 7:24

Published in Rowing
Tagged under

# ROWING: Sanita Puspure won in her first outing at Henley Royal Regatta today. The Cork-based athlete beat Pippa Whittaker, a Nottingham oarswoman, in the Princess Royal for single sculls. The British under-23 hopeful started well but Puspure took control and established a good lead. The eventual margin of victory was given as ‘easily’.

Adam Boreman, who has come through from the Ireland Talent ID programme, and Chris Beck of RBAI teamed up in the Double Sculls, an open event, but were beaten by a big margin.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Three (Irish interest)

Princess Royal (Single Sculls, Women, Open): S Puspure (Old Collegians) bt P Whittaker (Nottingham) easily, 10.31

The Double Sculls (Open): SH Whelpley and WS Cowles bt A Boreman (Belfast Boat Club) and C Beck (RBAI) easily, 8:45.

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: The Cork Boat Club four of John Paul Collins, Stephen Carroll, Colm Dowling and Shane Mac Eoin put in a good challenge in the second round of the Wyfold Cup but could not overcome Rob Roy from Cambridge at Henley Royal Regatta. The English crew led by half a length at the quarter mile and held off Cork’s pushes to extend their lead.

Colin Williamson of Queen’s University lost to El Salvador’s Roberto Lopez in the Diamond Sculls. Lopez powered away from Williamson early on and did not yield up the advantage.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day Two (Irish interest)

Wyfold Cup (Fours, Club): Rob Roy bt Cork BC 4¼ l, 7:53

Diamond Sculls (Single Sculls, Open): R Lopez (El Salvador) bt C Williamson (Queen’s University) easily, 9:00

Published in Rowing

# ROWING: Ireland’s only eight competing at Henley Royal Regatta bowed out of the Temple Cup today. Trinity led the University of Michigan at the Barrier and Fawley (roughly halfway). A push by Trinity was ineffective, but the Americans staged their own which took them into the lead. They took control and won by one and a quarter lengths.

Henley Royal Regatta, Day One (Irish interest)

Temple Cup (Eights, Student): University of Michigan (USA) bt Trinity 1 ¼ l, 7:12

Prince Albert Cup (Coxed Fours, Student): Imperial College bt Queen’s University 1¾ l, 8:07

Wyfold Cup (Fours, Club): Cork BC bt Cardiff City 1l, 7:52; Rob Roy bt Henley B 4l, 7:56

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
Page 5 of 7

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.