Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service

Commodore Darragh Kirwan

Commodore Darragh Kirwan was appointed as the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service (FOCNS) by the Minister of Defence and Government in January 2026.

A native of Dublin, Commodore Kirwan is an Operations Officer with over 32 years’ experience in a variety of roles across the Defence Forces, as well as deployments with the EU and NATO.

Commodore Kirwan’s most recent appointment was as Officer Commanding Naval Operations Command with responsibility for planning and delivery of naval operations. Prior to this role he served in the Implementation Management Office in Defence Forces Headquarters. Commodore Kirwan has previously served in command appointments at sea on two Offshore Patrol Vessels, L.É. EMER and L.É. SAMUEL BECKETT, and ashore as Officer Commanding & Commandant Naval College.

He served overseas with NATO as part of Kosovo Force (KFOR), and with the EU Naval Force Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR-Med) Operation IRINI. He was in command of L.É. SAMUEL BECKETT for the national deployment in late 2016 on a bi-lateral humanitarian mission between Ireland and Italy in response to the migrant crisis in the Central Mediterranean.

Commodore Kirwan’s educational qualifications include a Higher Diploma in Health & Safety from UCC, an MA in Leadership, Management & Defence Studies from Maynooth University, and an MSc in HR Leadership from Sheffield Hallam University. He is a graduate of the Defence Forces’ Command & Staff Course. Commodore Kirwan is married to Elaine and they have four children.

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