An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 9 LÉ Aoife bids farewell by NAVAL SERVICE PRESS OFFICE PhOtOS by A/S DAVID JONES O n 31st January 2015, a Ceremonial Decommissioning to mark a poignant yet proud day in the history of LÉ Aoife took place on the Quayside in Waterford City where she is twinned with. Commissioned on 29th Novem- ber 1979, she has given over 35-years of loyal and dedicated service to the State. She has been crewed by in excess of 2,000 Naval Service personnel, both serving and retired in a range of maritime operations. The Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Mr Paul Kehoe, T.D., escorted by D COS Sp, Rear Admiral Mark Mellett, DSM and FOCNS, Commodore Hugh Tully, reviewed an honour guard made up of members of the final crew of the LÉ Aoife. He then reviewed the final ship's company escorted by OC LÉ Aoife, Lt Cdr Marie Gleeson. In addressing the parade, Minister Kehoe stated that, "LÉ Aoife has ...travelled in excess of 600,000 nautical miles, an equivalent of circumnavigating the globe 28 times and her crew has boarded over 4,700 vessels at sea and detained over 440 fishing vessels. During her service, LÉ Aoife has been involved in many successful opera- tions... most notably, the recovery in 1985 of the black box from Air India Flight 182 off the south west coast. I am pleased to report that the Dept of Defence is continuing to progress the Ships Replacement Programme. ...the LÉ James Joyce, is scheduled for deliv- ery in the coming months. ... an order for a third new Offshore Patrol Vessel scheduled for delivery in the middle of 2016." Lt Cdr Marie Gleeson OC LÉ Aoife addressed all those present, "I have the honour and the privilege of being the last Officer Commanding of the LÉ Aoife. ...Every ship develops a character and the LÉ Aoife has been home to thousands of Naval personnel over the past 36-years – she has brought us safely back to port on every occasion and has never let us down – if she had a voice of her own she would regale you all for hours with tales of the exploits of the sailors of the Irish Navy through the years. She is a fine ship and as you can see she looks as well today as she did when she was commissioned 36-years ago which is a testament to the sailors who have maintained her with pride through the years. Today is a day of mixed emotions – we are all extremely proud to have served onboard her, we are excited at the prospect of the arrival of her replacement the LÉ James Joyce – a state of the art vessel which will serve the coun- try well in the hostile seas of the Atlantic and yet we are all sad to see the departure of the LÉ Aoife from the Naval Service Fleet." Lt Cdr Marie Gleeson made a presentation to the first Capt of LÉ Aoife in 1979, Cdr Eoin McNa- mara Retd, of a framed picture of the first ship's company at their private audience with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican in June 1980. A presentation was also made to Warrant Officer Martin Doran, who was a member of the first crew of the LÉ Aoife where he was posted as the Leading Gunner. WO Doran is the only member of the original crew who is currently serving in the Naval Service and he has the distinction of being the most senior NCO in the Naval Service holding the appoint- ment of Master At Arms. Naval Chaplain, Fr Des Campion blessed The Naval Jack and the Decommissioning Pennant before they were lowered. The Ship's Battle Ensign was lowered for the last time and the ceremony was concluded with the playing of the National Anthem, with musical honours provided by the Band of 1 Bde. The Decommissioning pennant is 42-foot long representing one foot for every year of her commissioned service plus an additional six feet. LÉ Aoife's Naval Jack was presented by A/ CommOP McRedmond to the most senior NCO of LÉ Aoife's final crew, the Coxn CPO Martin Ham- ilton. LÉ Aoife's Decommissioning Pennant was presented by PO Comop Brendan Kearney to OC LÉ Aoife, Lt Cdr Marie Gleeson. The ship's company continued their generous support of the Children's Ward University Hospital Waterford by presenting a donation of a cheque for €700.

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