An Cosantóir

EDITORIAL Comdt David McKnight info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Sgt Karl Byrne (Stand in) connect@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Cpl Lee Coyle (Overseas) journalist@military.ie A/M Sam Gibney photo@military.ie Cpl Martin Bennett subs@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5312 Mr Seán Shinnors Tony O'Brien Irish Navy Front Covers from previous An Cosantóir magazines JM Publishing & Media Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Tel: +35315331911 Email: info@jmpublishing.ie www.jmpublishing.ie The fact that an article appears in this magazine does not indicate official approval of the views expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Branch for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)45 445312 Vacant Vacant admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 webmaster@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5309 MANAGER: EDITOR: PHOTO/JOURNALIST: PHOTOGRAPHER: ADMIN NCO: MAGAZINE ARCHIVIST: CIVILIAN JOURNALIST: FRONT COVER DESIGNER/JOURNALIST:: DF/PR INFORMATION CPL: DF WEBMASTER: Hello, and welcome to our fourth issue of 2021, our 81st volume of the An Cosantóir magazine. This issue marks a very special year in Naval Service history, with its 75th Anniversary occurring in September of this year. This issue we have a wide range of naval content. Starting off with forewords from Uachtarán na hÉireann Micheal D. Higgins, the Minister for Defence Simon Coveney TD, the Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, the Secretary General Department of Defence Jacqui McCrum, the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service Commodore Michael Malone and also forewords from PDFORRA & RACO. On Parade features recent and past albums from the Naval Service which feature on our Defence Forces Flickr page. Our first feature, along with many others like it, has an interview with Cdr Roberta O'Brien; also featuring through the magazine are interviews with Lt Cdr Mike Brunicardi on his life and career in the Irish Navy. An interview with PO Aileen Hanna, giving us an insight into life as a naval chef on pages 26-27. Concluding the interviews on pages 38-39 is the first female Irish Naval diver Lt Tahlia Britton. Without spoiling too much I will leave it to you, the reader, to discover this special edition for yourself. Just to say that through this issue we have many articles ranging from history to present day operations of the Irish Naval Service, along with some of our regular features, like our Internal Comms feature, Dirty Boots, Heapspace and Timing and our Book Reviews. I will say this: it is an honour and a pleasure to be the Editor of An Cosantóir magazine for this 75th Irish Naval Service Special Edition. It could not have happened without the tireless work of our Naval Service Ambassador SCPO/ERA Ruairí de Barra, without whom it would have been a much smaller special edition, thank you Ruairí. Foreword from SCPO/ERA Ruairí de Barra A dhaoine uaisle agus a chairde, It is a great privilege to be part of the team which has delivered this special edition of An Cosantóir to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Naval Service. It is entirely fitting that the exemplary service rendered by the sailors of today and yesterday, is celebrated. It is also fitting that we should pause to remember those who are no longer with us, and their families. Sailors of each generation build friendships that last a lifetime and the loss of a shipmate who has shared the adventures and the hardships with us is never easy, no matter the passing of the years. Our commitment to the service would not be possible without the shared sacrifice of our own families; those who keep hearth and home together, when we sail out to do our work, far from sight over the horizon. This celebration is one for the entire naval community; sailors, families, veterans and friends. We are living through extraordinarily difficult times. Through it all sailors and their ships have sailed, to carry out their vital work on behalf of the state. I have always been proud to be counted amongst these extraordinary citizens in uniform and I must thank everyone in service who has contributed to this publication. I must also personally thank all the contributors who have shared their work with this commemorative edition. The common bond between the many articles, which I hope all readers shall enjoy, is the obvious affection for our navy, its sailors, its ships and its rich history. The last 75 years have charted a course which guides us today and has prepared us to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Whatever the future holds, the navy will be here, bows turned towards the sea, ready to continue in the commitment to their promise. «The Navy is much more than a job; much more than service to country. It is a way of life. It gets in your blood.» – Albert F Pratt SCPO/ERA Ruairí de Barra. An Cosantóir Naval Service Ambassador. Sgt Karl Byrne – (Stand-in) Editor. Vacant

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