Naval Service Fleet
P52 - LÉ Niamh
LÉ Niamh was built in Appledore Shipyards in the UK for the Naval Service. She is an improved version of her sister ship, LÉ Róisín and Naval Service engineers stood by her construction at all stages. She is built to the successful Róisín design that optimizes her patrol performance in Irish waters (which are among the roughest in the world), year round. For that reason a greater length overall (78.8m) was chosen, giving her a long, sleek appearance.
Following the dictum that sailors at sea should be provided with as much comfort and dignity as the harsh environment allows, the facilities onboard include more private accommodation, a gymnasium and changing areas and storage areas.
Her main armament is a 76mm OTO MELARA compact gun and RADAMEC fire control system which is tied in to the integrated bridge system. She also has a highly automated engine room. Her twin WARTSILA diesels give her efficient patrolling ability with good speed performance when required.
One of Niamh most notable episodes was her trip to Asia in 2002, which was the first ever visit by an Irish warship to that part of the world and included official visits to China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia, together with a refueling stop in India and a UN resupply visit to Irish troops based in Eritrea.
She also recently supported the first ever deployment of Irish troops to Liberia, in West Africa and provided transport and logistical support to the contingent that conducted reconnaissance of the port and territory prior to the arrival of the main body, serving under the Untied Nations.
Although the homeport of the LÉ Niamh is Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour, LÉ Niamh has a particularly close relationship with the city of Limerick.
| Type | Offshore Patrol vessel |
|---|---|
| Commissioned | 18 September 2001 |
| Complement | 44 (6 Officers and 38 Ratings) |
| Displacement | 1500 tonnaí |
| Dimensions (meters) | 78.84 x 14 x 3.8 meters |
| powerplant | 2 x V26 WARTSILA 26, 5000kW, Medium Speed Diesel |
| Maximum Speed | 23 knots |
| Range | 6000 nautical miles at 17 knots |
| Weapons | 1 x 76mm OTO Melara Cannon; 2 x 12.7mm HMG and 4 x 7.62mm GPMG |
Niamh from Celtic Mythology
Niamh, from legend, was the daughter of the sea god Manannán and lived in Tír na nÓg (The Land of Youth). She was known as “Niamh of the Golden Hair”. One day when Niamh was riding her magical white horse she found Oisín who was a member of the Fianna and son of Fionn mac Cumhail. She asked him if he would go to Tír na nÓg with her and he agreed. Having said goodbye to his father and friends he departed with Niamh for the land of Tír na nÓg on her white horse promising he would return soon.
Oisín was welcomed by the king and queen of Tír na nÓg and a great feast was held in his honour. Oisín eventually married Niamh and loved living in Tír na nÓg. After what had felt like three years to Oisín had passed, he began to feel home sick and wanted to return to Ireland to visit his father and the Fianna. Niamh gave him her magical white horse warning him not to get off the horse and set foot on the soil of Ireland, that he would never return to Tír na nÓg.
When Oisín returned to Ireland there was no sign of his father or the Fianna. Oisín while travelling around Ireland was asked by a group of men to help move a boulder. Oisín leaned over to help them from his horse but the saddle broke and he fell. Once he hit the ground he became a very old man and died shortly after. He found out that his father and friends had died three hundred years ago and that the three years spent in Tír na nÓg had turned out to be three hundred years. He is said to have related his story of the Fianna and Niamh to Saint Patrick before he died.