LÉ Eithne has departed the Irish Naval Service base at Haulbowline, Co Cork for the final time.
The vessel, the former flagship of the service, is to be taken apart for scrap after hopes to convert her into a museum never materialised.
LÉ Eithne was built at the Verolme dockyard in Cork harbour in 1984, before it closed.
The ship served for 38 years on missions at home and abroad before it was decommissioned in July 2022.
Cork County Council was interested in securing the vessel as a potential tourist attraction, but it was decided that the plan would not be viable.
Today we said a sad goodbye to LE Eithne as the HPV departed the Naval Base for the final time. Built in Verolme in 1984, L.E. Eithne served Ireland for 38 years on missions at home and abroad prior to decommissioning as flagship.#navalservice #navy #bemore #oglaighnaheireann pic.twitter.com/BPU93EJTDL
— Irish Naval Service (@naval_service) March 5, 2024
LÉ Eithne was the first Irish naval vessel to have helicopter capabilities, the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean to North America and the first to travel to the southern hemisphere.
In 2006, the ship travelled to Argentina in the first deployment of an Irish naval vessel to the southern hemisphere.
It took part in events in Buenos Aires to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Admiral William Brown, who was born in Foxford, Co Mayo, and is considered the father of the Argentine navy.
Among its other deployments, in May 2015, LÉ Eithne joined a humanitarian rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea.
