A certain crew of Navy men made waves last week after a Christmas Jumper Day video went online to raise funds for CMRF Crumlin. A Donegal man was on board that famous vessel, the LÉ Eithne, and he will mark a special point in his career this Christmas.
Bundoran man Ryan Walsh serves as an Ordinary Supply on LÉ Eithne. He will be marking one year with the Irish Naval Service this January.
LÉ Eithne is an Irish Naval Service vessel that had become very well known throughout Ireland during the refugee crisis. Since May 2015, the Navy have rescued over 11,500 migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean.
The Irish Naval crews have been heroically saving men, women and children from packed dinghies as they try to cross the dangerous waters to Europe.
LE Eithne
OS Walsh now plays a vital role in keeping the LÉ Eithne afloat. Donegal Daily caught up him to find out what life is like out at sea after his graduation this year.
“Life at sea is not easy, you’re away from family, but you get a great feeling about what you’re doing here because you know you’re doing something positive,” OS Walsh said.
“At the minute now we’re out here patrolling Irish waters. Like the guards at sea, we’re doing fishery boardings, checking fishing ships quotas and patrolling for emergencies. If a ship gets into bother we’re there to come to its rescue.”
“It’s something different, it’s not a 9 to 5 job and you’re always on the go.”
OS Walsh and the crew would generally be out at sea for two-four weeks at a time. Thankfully he’ll get some days off for Christmas but has a long way to travel before getting home.
“Being from Donegal it’s tough being so far away from my family and my girlfriend. But there’s something different about this job. You know you’re doing something good and you feel a sense of pride when you’re coming into port.”
The LÉ Eithne is the flagship vessel of the Irish Naval Service. There is normally a crew of around 50, aged between 18 and 50 years old.
OS Walsh has not yet been sent out to the Mediterranean Sea on humanitarian missions, but it’s looking like he’ll go next year.
“It’s daunting but you’re ready for the task. The boys were doing great work out there. Personally I’m very excited because I know all about it from talking to the lads who have been there. It’s tough but it’s part of the learning curve. You have to see these things before you learn from them.”
Ryan had been studying archaeology in college but applied for the Naval Service because he wanted a change of direction.
He began training in January 2016. “It really opened up my eyes to a lot of things I’d never seen before. It has changed my outlook on everything.”
OS Walsh learned skills in fire fighting and weapons training. As an Ordinary Supply, he looks after the stocks and provides support to the RIB (speedboat).
The crew always have to be ready to fight a fire or flood, as there are no emergency services out at sea.
OS Walsh also monitors the stores of the ship. “If you run out of milk when you’re out at sea that causes an awful hysteria. There’s no milk for the tea then!”
“Your crew kind of becomes your family because that’s all you have when you’re at sea. We don’t often have phone coverage, but if you have something on your mind you can turn to one of the lads.”
“We all get on so well, and that’s what makes a ship. It’s all about keeping morale up.”
One of the biggest morale boosters was the making of the music video for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and The National Children’s Research Centre.
From a recruit to a crew member, OS Walsh has had a busy year of moving through the ranks. After a short break for Christmas he’ll be back out at sea. But the year to come is going to bring many more challenges and many more achievements.
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