Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Sigma 33

Scottish visitor Leaky Roof II skippered by Alan Harper of Cove Sailing Club leads the Sigma 33 Class and Irish Championship 2018 after eight races sailed at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire.

Visiting boats continue to dominate the overall placings but there was a race win in race five for Royal St. George's Gwilli Two skippered by Paddy Maguire.

It's a result that puts the former Irish Sailing President as top host boat in tenth place in the 22-boat fleet. Racing continues tomorrow.

Results are provisional click here

Published in Sigma
Tagged under

Scottish visitor Sigmatic skippered by Donald McClaren of Helensburgh SC leads the Sigma 33 Class and Irish Championship 2018 at the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire.

Visiting boats take the top ten places after three races sailed in the record 22-boat fleet with the top Dublin Bay boat being Rupert (Dick Lovegrove) in 11th place.

Results are provisional

1st GBR 4270 Sigmatic Donald McClaren Helensburgh SC 
2nd GBR 4462 Excelle John Fox Flushing SC
3rd IRL 4412 Miss Behavin Grant Simpson Helensburgh SC

Full results click here

Published in Sigma
Tagged under

Entries closed yesterday for the Sigma 33 Class UK and Irish Championships 2018 on Dublin Bay this weekend.

The Royal St. George Yacht Club organisers have confirmed 23 entries, being 161 competitors from five countries.

Racing takes place from Friday to Sunday with ten races scheduled over the three days, all under the watchful eye of International Race Officer David Lovegrove.

"The Royal St. George Yacht Club organisers have confirmed 23 entries, being 161 competitors from five countries"

There are 15 visiting boats from 13 visiting clubs and eight local boats and in looking at the quality of the visitors it is clear that many of them could achieve a podium finish. It would certainly be difficult to pick a winner. It all adds up to a competitive weekend on the water Sigmas.

There'll be a full house for the Championship dinner in the Royal St George Yacht Club on Saturday evening where the guest speaker is Tim Goodbody, a Sigma 33 champion, who needs no introduction to the fleet.

Download the Sigma 33 Sailing Instructions below

Published in Sigma
Tagged under

It is 34 years since the first Sigma 33 was sailed at the Royal St George Yacht Club but next month's Class Championships will be the first ever staging of the event by the Dun Laoghaire Club.

A 21–boat fleet that is drawn from five countries will contest the title.

In it's 39–years history, 364 boats in total were built. The Sigma 33 has proved to be a popular club, regatta and offshore boat well capable of making distance passages to regattas and events.
The Sigma 33 also has participated in offshore and overnight racing and has proved to be a safe family cruising boat with the option of class racing both in the UK and Ireland.

In Dun Laoghaire in 1984, “Eggemoggin“ was the first Sigma 33, sailed by Adrian Lee and crew, to sail from the RStGYC. It was later followed by “Tahoe” sailed by the late John Marks. Dublin Bay sailor Gary Mathews who sailed on “Eggemoggin” is still sailing today on “Rupert” sailed by club mates Dick & Philip Lovegrove.

The class went on to become one of the biggest one–design cruiser racers in Dublin Bay during the Noughties.

Now, 34 years later, The George is hosting, for the first time, the Sigma 33 Class Championships from 22nd – 24th June 2018 and looks forward to assembling the fleet at the club pontoon, according to class captain Paddy Maguire.

Published in Sigma
Tagged under

The Class Captain of the Sigma 33 East Coast Association is reporting a bumper entry of 20 'Early Bird' entries received from 14 different clubs for June's Dublin Bay Chmpionships at the Royal St. George Yacht Club

'The entries to date reflect strong interest in Sigma 33 sailing', class chief Paddy Maguire told Afloat.ie. 

As Afloat.ie previously reported, a fleet of 25 boats – and possibly more now – is expected to gather from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

This weekend, the regatta's Notice of Race was amended in order to extend the date for receipt of Early Bird Entries to next Wednesday (March 21st).

The class and Irish Championships are being held in the Royal St George Yacht Club from 22nd – 24 June 2018.

Download the NOR here

Published in Sigma
Tagged under

Sigma 33 sailors are making their sailing plans in good time for 2018 with 15 entries from 11 different clubs received for the class and Irish Championships being held in the Royal St George Yacht Club from 22nd – 24 June 2018.

As Afloat.ie previously reported, a fleet of 25 boats is expected to gather from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

The class boasted a fleet of 19 for last year's Dun Laoghaire Regatta, producing one of the biggest one design keelboat events in the 2017 fleet.

The early bird entry for June's event closes on 17th March 2018 and all entries received on or before that date will be entered in a draw and the lucky winner will receive a refund of their entry. 

Organisers have announced that the draw for the refund of the entry fee will take place in the Royal St George Yacht Club on Thursday 22nd March 2018 at 7.00 in the Trophy room.

Download the NOR here

Published in Sigma
Tagged under

The Sigma 33 class is 39–years–old this year and this June the Royal St. George Yacht Club will host the Class and Irish Championship, the first occasion the Dun Laoghaire Club has held these combined events.

Download the notice of race below.

'It's a great prospect for both the club, with all its experience of major events, and the class, which will be berthed on the clubs pontoons, making for a unique event', Class Captain Paddy Maguire told Afloat.ie

Despite the boats age, the class is very capable of drawing both the top sailors and fun sailors to its annual Championship in good numbers from June 22–24.

As Afloat.ie reported at the time here, Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta last year attracted 20 entries and similar entries are expected this June.

St.Patricks Day (17th March) will have an extra significance for Sigma 33 sailors next month as it is also the deadline for the closing of Early Bird entries at the discounted rate of €169.

All entries received will automatically be entered in a draw and one lucky entrant will have their entry fee refunded.

'It would be great to have a home town winner or a top 3 place which has not been possible in recent years since Tim Goodbody was a competitor', Maguire told Afloat.ie

Published in Sigma
Tagged under

Over 70 Sigma 33 sailors, friends and guests attended the Sigma 33 East Coast Association Annual Prize giving dinner at the Royal St George Yacht Club last night hosted by Dick Lovegrove, the classes senior Sigma 33 sailor.

Prizes were presented to the top three boats at the 2017 Irish Sigma 33 Championships.

  1. Squawk - Paul Prentice RUYC
  2. Gwili Two - Dermot Clarke & Paddy Maguire R ST. GYC
  3. Flyover - David Marchant & Others Waterford Harbour Sailing Club

Silver Fleet winner: “Leewin” Henry Leonard & Bobby Kerr RIYC

The Sigma 33 class prizes were as follows:

  • Boss Trophy: Gwili Two Dermot Clarke & Paddy Maguire R St. G Y C
  • The Michael O’Herlihy Trophy: Leewin Henry Leonard & Bobby Kerr RIYC
  • Sigma 33 Class Trophy: Elandra Joe Conway RIYC
  • The Coleman O'Sullivan Trophy: Paddy Maguire RStGYC

There was big success for Joe Conway in Elandra who was a class winner in ISORA in his first year.

Sigma33 PrizegivingFrom left to right at the Sigma 33 Prizegiving were Bobby Kerr, Henry Leonard, Dermot Clarke, Paul Prentice and David Marchant

The Sigma 33 was one of the biggest one design cruiser fleet at last July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regtta with 19 entries.

The Dun Laoghaire Regatta series had 19 entries including nine from the home waters and ten visitors from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, the Isle of Man and local boats from Arklow and Waterford. The nine race series was dominated the top six visiting boats. Most of them had competed at regattas in Tarbert and Helensburgh and benefited from the close racing at both events. It proved very difficult for local boats to break into the top six in any race. 

sigma 33 dun laoghaireThe Sigma 33 had 19 entries at last July's Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regtta

The long established Dublin Bay class merged with class two for local DBSC racing in 2017 but the class retains its one design status for special races such as its championships and last year's  Dun Laoghaire Harbour Bicentennial Race Day.

Sigma 33 class attention now turns to 2018 season and the Sigma 33 Class Championships 22nd – 24 June 2018 on Dublin Bay.

Published in Sigma
Tagged under
14th September 2017

What the Sigma 33 Means to Me

Hearing about the open morning on Sunday, the 24th of September at the Royal St.George YC in Dun Laoghaire where Sigma 33 Class Captain Paddy Maguire wants to raise more interest in Sigmas, brought back how I became interested in the Sigma, the design of David Thomas and whom I read about sailing the Sigma with his young grandson, which first attracted my attention to the boat. I bought a Sigma, have sailed her for 17 years and nowadays my 13-year-old grandson has become one of her regular helms and she has been crewed by his 11-year-old brother and their friends, often outnumbering the three adults on the crew…and winning races!

When I first set eyes on her I liked her looks – and still do…. She had a beautiful shape..Unfortunately, inside was different! She seemed to have been abandoned in a hurry and to have been pretty hard raced. I was to learn that racing commitment was not unusual amongst Sigma 33s.

Despite her internal appearance I bought her. She is now 33-years-old - first launched in 1984 and, after 17 years I still feel pleasure and joy when sailing her, even though she is now out of Class because, to the horror of some owners I changed her looks!

Listen to the Podcast to hear what I did and why - and how, despite the changes, this old Sigma is still capable of showing her stern to some more modern, newer and bigger boats and about my worst day with her, but which she and I survived.

Dublin has an active Sigma one-design fleet. In Cork Harbour, where I sail, there are half-a-dozen active Sigma racers, in Class 3 and Whitesail.

Isn’t what matters most – getting use out of your boat?

Good luck to the Sigma Class in Dublin and the open morning on Sunday, September 24 from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There’s an opportunity to sail one and there’s finger food afterwards….. If you’re interested … Email Class Captain Paddy Maguire on: [email protected]

Listen to the Podcast below

Published in Tom MacSweeney
Tagged under

Are you Interested in Sailing or Buying a Sigma 33?

Experience a sail at our Open Morning on Sunday, 24th September 2017 at the Royal St. George Yacht Club

from  9.30–1.00 O’Clock

Followed by finger food in the Club afterwards

For more details call Paddy Maguire 087 2361916 or e- mail [email protected]

More details on the Sigma 33 class from the 2017 season below.

The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta was for the Sigma 33 one design class the third major open Championship of 2017. The season stared in Tarbert, Scotland at the end of May, with the Scottish series with ten competitors and was won by “Mayrise” James Miller of Cove Sailing Club (CCC) with four wins from eight races.

The next event was in Helensburgh in Mid-June for the Class Championships which was won by “ Miss Behavin” Alan Lennox, Helensburgh Sailing Club. The 13–boat fleet completed eight of the ten planned races over the three days.

The Dun Laoghaire Regatta series had 19 entries including nine from the home waters and ten visitors from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, the Isle of Man and local boats from Arklow and Waterford. The nine race series was dominated the top six visiting boats. Most of them had competed in Tarbert and Helensburgh and benefited from the close racing at both events. It proved very difficult for local boats to break into the top six in any race. The racing was very competitive with places changing on all legs. The Dun Laoghaire Regatta series was won by Alan Harper & Kristy Robertson in “ Mayraise” The Irish Championship were run in conjunction with the regatta and won by Paul Prentice in “ Squawk” from the Royal Ulster Yacht Club.

Sigma33 Dublin Bay 1 0497Visiting Sigma 33 crews to Dublin Bay in July visiting crews were made up of young and experienced sailors, both men and women. Photo: Afloat.ie

The Sigma 33’s were the biggest one design keelboat class at the regatta and this added to the more enjoyable competition for competitors. The visiting crews comprised young and experienced sailors, both men and women. It’s on occasions like that that you think of how good Tim Goodbody was in that he was regularly in the top three in such regattas.

It wasn’t all racing and on the Friday night 120 of the fleet held a bicentennial Dinner in The Royal Irish Yacht Club. Prizes were presented to the winners of the day’s racing “ Mayrise” Alan Harper and Kristy Robertson CCC and “Rupert” Richard and Philip Lovegrove of the RStGYC. Thanks to Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, each boat was presented with a History of the Harbour.

The local fleet will recognise that they need to be more competitive as a fleet if they are to compete more successfully in this type of competitive regatta. There is a big incentive for the Class. In 2018, the Sigma 33 National Championships and Irish Championships will be held in Dun Laoghaire and 2019 is a Dun Laoghaire Regatta year. It is expected that similar entries to 2017 will compete each year. This also provides a great opportunity for young local sailors to acquire a Sigma 33 with a major event in local waters for each of the next two years and discover how successfully they could compete against the visitors and local sailors.

Sigma33 Dublin Bay 2 0485The Sigma 33 Fleet will hold a 'Sigma 33 Morning' on Sunday 24th September 2017 at 9.30am in The Royal St. George in Dun Laoghaire

As part of the recognition of the changes required to improve our competitiveness, the Sigma 33 Fleet will hold a 'Sigma 33 Morning' to enable anyone interested in buying or sailing on Sigma 33’s to sail on Sunday 24th September 2017 at 9.30am in The George. All are welcome to come down and to join us for finger food afterwards. If you wish to attend please confirm your attendance by contacting Sigma 33 Class Captain Paddy Maguire at [email protected]

Published in Sigma
Page 3 of 6

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.