An Cosantóir

12 "I did not come from a military family but I certainly married into one", explains Lt Cdr Mary Elizabeth Lane. She tells An Cosantoir: "My husband is LtCdr (Ret'd.) Owen Mullowney who was Captain of LE Emer and his father – my father-in-law – is, Lt Col (Ret'd.) A.J. Mullowney of the Military Police." But then Mary knew from an early age that she wanted to do something different with her life. "In fourth year in college studying electrical electronic engineering, I remember doing my final year project and being in the lab for hours at a time everyday and thinking to myself: 'oh my god, when I graduate is this it, am I going to be stuck in a lab all day every day, 9-to- 5 never leaving it.' I thought there has to be something else," she recalls. That something else turned out to be a fulfilling career in the Naval Service. But it came about by chance: "I just happened to be looking at an Engineering magazine and they were advertising for the Army. I wasn't interested in the Army but the Navy, I could see radios, radar etc, that would all apply to electrical electronic engineering. "I contacted the Naval Service and funnily enough they were going to start a campaign to recruit different types of engineers. That was it for me. My mind was set, my goal was set and I was delighted when I did get the call and got in. "Basically, I just wanted something different, I wanted a challenge. An adventure I suppose, and I certainly got that." Nineteen years later, Mary has absolutely no regrets about her career choice. Indeed, she remains excited by each day's work, the challenges and experiences that lie ahead and the rest of a very happy and fulfilling career." She is based at HQ in Haulbowline where her current role is OIC MMU (Officer in Charge, Maintenance Management Unit). But she is moving to a different appointment in May. Her new job will be as OIC Communications Technical Section. "Some people might be put off by a regular switching of jobs but I am really looking forward to a different challenge," Mary explains, "It can be a bit of a disappointment leaving people you have worked with for two years and a role you are familiar with, but six months in and you feel the same about the new appointment." When she first joined of course, there was extensive, sometimes demanding training but it was all part of the adventure for Mary. "The first few times I went to sea I was being 'marinised', as I put it. I was sent on the LE Aisling and the LE Niamh and it was basically to get used to seagoing and life at sea." Over the years she has had many roles and experiences, a variety which is one of the joys of the serving in the Naval Service, according to Mary. "In the Navy you never have one job: I was a Health and Safety Officer; I was a Fisheries Boarding Officer and when the ship was put into refit I was project manager." She adds: "On any given day you can be doing completely different things. Every two years we actually change job. In the role I am in I can be in the college instructing, I can be in the lab if I choose, I can be doing IT support - basically a whole range of jobs! I have my basic qualification, but the way it is applied here is bringing me to new ranges that I never thought possible." "The first time I actually filled an appointment was on board the LE Eithne as an Electrical Officer. You are in charge of a team of four technicians and are responsible for everything from the maintenance and operation of radars to navigation, sat equipment, lights, generators, etc. It is a responsible job." By Tony O'Brien Photos by Lt Cdr Mary Lane Lt Cdr Mary Lane seen here posing with her husband and son at the decommissioning of the LÉ Emer LT CDR MARY LANE

• Cover