WATCH: LÉ Eithne towed off to ship recycling centre

THE Irish Naval Service this week bid farewell to its former flagship, the LÉ Eithne, with the decommissioned vessel now set to be recycled.

In a post on social media, the Naval Service published a video of the vessel being towed out of Haulbowline.

“Today the Irish Naval Service said a sad goodbye to the LÉ Eithne as the helicopter patrol vessel departed the Naval Base for the final time.

“Built in Verolme Dockyard and commissioned in 1984, LÉ Eithne gave 38 years’ service to Ireland before being decommissioned as flagship of the naval service,” the organisation stated.

“LÉ Eithne visited several ports at home and overseas, completing humanitarian missions in South America in 2006 and Operation Pontus in the Mediterranean in 2015 and 2017.

“LÉ Eithne also assisted the frontline services in Cork city during the covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

“LÉ Eithne gave service to the State and gave memories to our service personnel.”

The patrol vessel (P31) is set to be recycled following an assessment of various options.

Today we said a sad goodbye to LE Eithne as the HPV departed the Naval Base for the final time. Built in Verolme in 1984, L.E. Eithne served Ireland for 38 years on missions at home and abroad prior to decommissioning as flagship.#navalservice #navy #bemore #oglaighnaheireann pic.twitter.com/BPU93EJTDL

— Irish Naval Service (@naval_service) March 5, 2024

In response to a parliamentary question last month, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin said in 2022 the then minister for defence Simon Coveney accepted a recommendation that the LÉ Eithne, along with the LÉ Orla, and the LÉ Ciara, should be decommissioned and disposed of.

Mr Martin said that several disposal options were considered. A number of organisations, he said, including Dublin Port and the local authorities in Cork and Limerick had indicated their interest in taking the LÉ Eithne as a museum piece or tourist attraction following her decommissioning.

“The Department of Defence engaged extensively with these interested parties but following, in some cases, lengthy discussions, all these parties withdrew their interest in taking the ship,” he said.

It was subsequently decided that all three ships should be recycled.

Mr Martin said that, following a competitive process, a preferred bidder was identified to remove the ships from Cork Harbour and to recycle them “in line with the EU Ship Recycling Regulation and relevant national regulations”.