How is Lt Cmr O Brien "the first female commander of a ship" when a female officer was in command of one of the ships involved in the recent drugs bust?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Woman makes Irish naval history
Collapse
X
-
First woman to command naval vessel
Irish naval history was made in Galway today when a female officer was appointed to command a ship for the first time.
Lieutenant Commander Roberta O'Brien from Co Tipperary took command of the LE Aisling at a ceremony in Galway, the city with which the ship is twinned.
31-year-old Lt Cdr O'Brien is from the Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary, but has strong family connections to the naval service.
Her mother comes from Haulbowline Island, Cork harbour, where naval headquarters is based. Her grandfather and uncle were members of the naval service, which she joined as a cadet in 1995.
She has served in various appointments and was the first female instructor in the Naval Cadet School.
Her brother and sister are serving with the army and she is married to an army officer.
When Lt Cdr O'Brien joined the navy she opted for being a deck officer rather than an engineer, so that she could one day command a ship."Attack your attic with a Steyr....as seen on the Late Late Show..."
Comment
-
Originally posted by Duffer View PostHow is Lt Cmr O Brien "the first female commander of a ship" when a female officer was in command of one of the ships involved in the recent drugs bust?
This clip is painful to watch, considering it was filmed in the basin....
Last edited by Goldie fish; 14 November 2008, 20:44.
Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.
Comment
-
Clip from TV3 (whose embed feature is baffling, to say the least)
And from Six One news..
Last edited by Goldie fish; 14 November 2008, 21:21.
Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.
Comment
-
Thanks for posting the footage.
L.E. Aisling has always been a bit special to me as I did my first shoot aboard her.
Couple of first here in this as she is also the first female officer to be piped aboard a ship of the NS.
She takes command of a former flag ship and the ceremonies were also reviewed by a former OC 'L.E. Aisling' Captain Jim Robinson, who is one of the few to hold 'Staff rank' without having gone through the cadet system.
She is also very young to hold OC's position given that she is only 31.
Congratulations to Lt Cdr O'Brien and best of luck in the future.Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe
Comment
-
-
New waters charted as Roberta takes helm
Originally posted by Victor View PostHe gets a fair ribbing as she outranks him.
He's a Captain in Artillery.
By Sean O’Riordan
EVEN though Roberta O’Brien grew up almost 100 kilometres from the nearest coastline, it hasn’t stopped the Tipperary native from making history with the Irish Naval Service.
Living in the Glen of Aherlow, at the age of 17 she embarked on a seafaring career which saw her yesterday become the first female commander of an Irish navy ship.
“I saw an opportunity when women were first allowed into the navy,” said Roberta. The year was 1995. She had just completed her Leaving Certificate and joined up with another woman.
This was to be the first chapter in her history-making career.
Arriving in Haulbowline, Co Cork, would have presented her with some nostalgia: her mother, also Roberta, grew up on the island and her grandfather and uncle had been in the service.
The young Roberta joined up as a cadet and two years later was commissioned to the rank of ensign.
A brother and sister also opted for a career in the Defence Forces, but they kept their feet firmly on dry land with the army.
After her commissioning she went to NUI Galway and completed a BSc degree.
While studying she also served onboard the LÉ Deirdre, LÉ Aoife and LÉ Emer, sharpening her naval skills in the process.
After departing university she was posted to the LÉ Niamh, taking on the responsibility of ship’s navigator.
For Roberta it was one of her most challenging roles, as the ship soon cast off for one of the longest voyages ever undertaken by the navy.
The LÉ Niamh had been tasked with promoting Irish products in Asia.
Roberta steered the ship through some of the world’s most challenging waters, as the vessel visited South Korea, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, India, Eritrea and transited the Suez Canal.
She came through with flying colours.
After a 30-month tour on the LÉ Niamh, Roberta returned to shore, attending the Naval College as cadet class officer and instructor.
On top of that she returned to university in her own time and successfully completed a postgraduate course in management and marketing.
This was followed by a spell as executive officer and second-in-command of the LÉ Emer.
Last October Roberta was posted to the Naval Operations Command, where she was group officer for the Naval Service Reserve (South).
A few months ago she was transferred to Naval Headquarters to work as staff officer for the flag officer commanding naval service in the service support section.
At just 31 years of age, Roberta made history again yesterday, when she took command of the LÉ Aisling, taking over from Lt Cdr Neil Manning.
“It is fantastic to make history. It is the dream of everybody to take command of a ship,” said Roberta.
She is just three ranks away from being the flag officer, the navy’s commander, so, might she make history again?
“I’d hope for career progression, but who knows?” she says.
As flag officers retire at 61, Roberta still has 30 years to hit the top.
“I see it’s possible that other women will look at me and know it is something that can be done,” said Roberta.
She added that about 7% of the navy’s 1,000-strong personnel are women. It is likely that percentage will grow in the years ahead.
When she’s not at sea she’s been known to be a good Gaelic footballer and rugby player. In addition she’s a good runner.
Despite her hectic work schedule she took time out in December 2004 to get married to a man who has his feet firmly set on the ground. The other half of the partnership is Captain Peadar O’Cathain, an artillery officer in the Irish Army.
He hails from Rosmuc Co Galway. Peadar has served overseas in Lebanon, Kosovo and Liberia.
As she takes to the seas as commander of her vessel, Roberta is certainly an inspiration to everyone to follow their dreams
Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.
Comment
-
Yeah we served with 'Paddles' junior on Eithne in the Late Eighties. A most unlikely charachter to have a relative as a ships Captain.
Thinking of it given her blood line how she ever even got a cadetship is bewildering.
Fifth from the left third row, tall guy.
Come to think of it Marloy both you and I are quite prominent in that photo.
Damo the Muff Dver is in there as well ( where did he vanish to?)
golden rivet, I think was his SG2 at the time.
A prize on offer to any one who can name them all.Last edited by hptmurphy; 15 November 2008, 22:11.Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe
Comment
-
Originally posted by hptmurphy View PostYeah we served with 'Paddles' junior on Eithne in the Late Eighties. A most unlikely charachter to have a relative as a ships Captain.
Thinking of it given her blood line how she ever even got a cadetship is bewildering.
Fifth from the left third row, tall guy.
Come to think of it Marloy both you and I are quite prominent in that photo.
Damo the Muff Dver is in there as well ( where did he vanish to?)
golden rivet, I think was his SG2 at the time.
A prize on offer to any one who can name them all.
remember padles well a good era remember him on watch 1 night thin k it was 12 to 4 when eithnes engines just died for no reason on top of a rather large wave he had them up and running in no time
Comment
Comment