An Cosantóir

48 The celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Naval Service is a milestone in the long and rich history of service. No celebration could be complete with a look back on past operations. Yet to squeeze a proper accounting of the sailors and ships which carried them out, into these few pages, would be impossible. Today the work of the NS is primarily carried out during what are termed Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO) patrols. The range of work is vast and the area of operations is astonishing. The sailors of each generation have faced many of the same operations as today; maritime interdiction of narcotics and arms, search and rescue, fisheries inspection, all conducted in the harsh environment of the North Atlantic. While today's seas may be rougher, and the operational tempo higher, today's ships are bigger and their technology is more advanced. Yet, our old sailors would recognise much of the daily life of today's crews; for a ship is merely wires and steel without its crew. "…Our own flag to the fore..." In 1948, the NS completed its first overseas mission. They were given the task of repatriating the remains of William Butler Yeats, the Nobel Prize winning poet, who had died in France in 1939. LÉ CLIONA was dispatched to bring his remains home to rest "under bare Ben Bulbens head". The sailors, who carried out this solemn duty with such dignity and respect, would never have imagined that an Irish warship would carry his name someday. The Troubles When the Northern Troubles were at their height, the Naval Service was at forefront of the interception of arms and munitions destined for the Provisional IRA. The death and destruction prevented by the foiling of these importations cannot be calculated. The 'MV Claudia' in March 1973 was sailing from Cyprus to Helvick head, having embarked a cargo of arms supplied by the Libyan dictator Col Muammar Gadaffi, off the coast of Tunis. It was stopped before delivering its lethal load by the LÉ FOLA, LÉ DEIRDRE and LÉ GRAINNE. In September 1984 the LÉ EMER and the LÉ AISLING intercepted the fishing vessel 'Marita Ann'. That faithful night they prevented seven tons of explosives, arms and ammunition from reaching the 75 YEARS OF SERVICE By SCPO/ERA Ruairí de Barra MComm horrendous conflict in Northern Ireland. Air India Disaster Air India Flight 182, on the 23rd June 1985, will long be remembered as a most terrible event. A bomb exploded within the Boeing 747- 273B and it disintegrated at a height of 9,400 metres above the coast of Cork. A terrible act of mass murder that resulted in the death of all 329 passengers and crew. The LÉ AISLING was tasked as on-scene commander, and over the course of the operation they toiled in shark-infested waters to recover the dead. Four of the ship's company were awarded Distinguished Service Medals for their actions. Nuestra Señora de Gardtoza On the night of 30th January 1990 the LÉ DEIRDRE was sheltering from severe gales in Lawrence's Cove, Bere Island. A Spanish fishing vessel, Nuestra Señora de Gardtoza, with 16 souls onboard ran aground on rocks near Roancarrigmore Light, northeast of Bere Island in Bantry Bay. LÉ DEIRDRE received the 'MAYDAY' at 2100hrs and, as quickly as she could, weighed anchor and headed out into the severe gale. With no helicopter support available and with no way to manoeuvre LÉ DEIRDRE in close, Leading Seaman Michael Quinn, from Drogheda, along with Able Seaman Paul Kellett from Dublin, volunteered to attempt a rescue, even in the face of the horrendous conditions. Once the Gemini manoeuvred close enough to the 'Gardtoza' it quickly became apparent that boarding the stricken vessel or a rescue was impossible. They were making their return to LÉ DEIRDRE, when the small boat capsized in the extreme wind and wave, and cast both sailors into sea. The brave comrades were separated in the darkness and an exhausted A/Sea Kellett was washed ashore near Dereen cove. A passing Garda patrol picked him up and he passed the word that L/Sea Quinn was lost out there in the blackness. Sadly, the next morning an Air Corps Dauphin helicopter, at 0800hrs on the 31st, recovered the body of Leading Seaman Quinn, 3 miles east of the tragic scene. v Photo: NS Archives v A Group photo of the crew of the LÉ Grainne, date unknown. Photo: NS Archives v Leading Seaman Micheal Quinn DSM. Photo: NS Archives

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