*Please do not copy and distribute obvious portions of this post without giving credit to the Irish Naval Service*
While visiting Ireland recently the
Irish warship L. É. AÍSLING made a call on the tiny village of Rathmullan, Co. Donegal, on the west shore of Lough Swilly. My wife and I discovered the beautiful Aísling tied up to the small, otherwise lonely pier during the last of our early morning walks on the gorgeous Rathmullan beach.
We both love this kind of stuff so walked out on the public pier to get a closer look at the very modern naval vessel.
Naturally, the ship’s name intrigued me
, as did the large, colorful caricature of what I took to be a Native American warrior in traditional dress prominently displayed on the starboard side of the large, vertical structure behind the bridge. (Please see Irish Naval Service image below. The round, white plate with the splash of dark red is the caricature I speak of.)
Out of some perceived courtesy of not wanting to make the sailor on watch uncomfortable, we didn’t pull out our cameras. And due to that particular morning’s stiff wind, out on the end of the pier we didn’t attempt to speak to him. Although the tide was out he was still waaaaaay above the pier! (Wouldn’t you know that would be the only morning with a wind?)
Returning to the warmth of the Rathmullan House for breakfast I told James (the Irish half of our tour minders) about the ship and its American Indian caricature. Without hesitation he replied (paraphrased)
Oh, that is the Aísling (to my memory he pronounced it
Ash leen)
and the image is most likely a Choctaw warrior in honor of when the Choctaw Nation, themselves suffering starvation, scrapped together a few hundred dollars and sent it to Ireland during the worst of the 1840s Potato Famine…Please see various spellings and pronunciations of Aísling here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisling_(given_name)
The special relationship between the Choctaw and the Irish people has been written about in this Forum:
http://celticwomanforum.com/index.php?topic=15879.0Well, all of this has led me on an enjoyable path of discovery that others may find interesting. Here is some tidbits:
…The ships charity is University Hospital Galway Children’s Ward…Credit given and loads more information specific to the Aísling here:
http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/offshore-patrol-vessel/le-aisling-p-23The Fleet:
…comprises one Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV), three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), two Large Patrol Vessel (LPV) and two Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPV). Each vessel is equipped with state of the art machinery, weapons, communication’s and navigation systems…
…The Flagship of the Irish Naval Service is the L.É. Eithne which is an HPV…Here the Eithne (variously pronounced Enya, of course) leads 6 of the 8 ships line-astern.
My guess is the 8th ship is holding the camera!
Helicopter Patrol Vessel:
L.É. EITHNE (P 31)http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/helicopter-patrol-vessel/le-eithne-p31Offshore Patrol Vessels:
L. É AOIFE (P 22)http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/offshore-patrol-vessel/le-aoife-p-22L. É AÍSLING (P 23)http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/offshore-patrol-vessel/le-aisling-p-23L. É EMER (P 21)http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/offshore-patrol-vessel/le-emer-p21Large Patrol Vessels:
L. É NIAMH (P 52)http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/large-patrol-vessel/le-niamh-p-52
L. É RÓISÍN (P 51)http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/large-patrol-vessel/le-roisinCoastal Patrol Vessels:
L. É ORLA (P 41)http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/coastal-patrol-vessel/le-orla-p-41L. É CÍARA (P 42)http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/coastal-patrol-vessel/le-ciara-p-42Thanks to the Irish Naval Service website for all information and images:
Irish Naval Service home:
http://www.military.ie/naval-service*Please do not copy and distribute obvious portions of this post with giving credit to the Irish Naval Service*
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