Navy celebrates new wave of sailors at Passing Out parade

RTÉ News​

15-05-2025

The Irish Naval Service celebrated the graduation of its latest crop of Able Rate sailors at a special Passing Out parade at the service's Haulbowline headquarters in Cork harbour.
Commodore Michael Malone said the 20 newly qualified sailors reflected the regeneration of the country's naval service which has witnessed a major fall-off in numbers in recent years.
Citing improved pay and conditions, Commodore Malone said there are 30 others in training, and another 60 set to be inducted into the Navy over the coming summer.
"We've big numbers coming into the Navy for the regeneration and obviously the ultimate hope is to get them all to sea and bring more vessels to do the work that we do, which is extremely essential at sea," he said.
The twenty students, aged between 19 and 34 years, hail from across the country and overseas including from Scotland, the Netherlands, Poland and Bulgaria.
"There's just certain benefits over here appeal to me and also, I have Irish heritage as well, so that would make me proud to serve my country over here as well," said Able Rate Conor McConway, who is originally from Glasgow.
While Able Rate Adam Chruslak, who is originally from Poland but grew up in Dungarvan, said the Navy is now his family.
"Training [was] tough, 24 weeks, but we all got through it, and I'd say this is my family for the rest of my life."
The students also come from a variety of backgrounds including cheffing, technical theatre, secondary teacher, metal fabrication and oyster farmer.
"I was originally working in films and theatre, and I did a lot of rigging and hauling and stuff and it interested me," Able Rate Sean Cassidy said.
He added: "I was freelancing, and I wasn't getting a lot of work, and I thought this is a good, good career.
"It'll keep me fit, it will keep me fed, keep me watered and keep me on the straight and narrow, and it has so I'm very happy to be here."
Twenty-five year old Able Rate Lee McDonagh, from Crumlin in Dublin was awarded Best Overall Student.
An awarding winning chef, he said his training in top ranking restaurants, where kitchens are organised in brigades, prepared him well for the demands of the Ordinary to Able Rate training course.
"Similar enough like the brigade system of kitchens, it's very similar. It's actually based off of the military. So, I would say it did help me," he said.
His grandmother Evelyn, and parents Gavin and Sorcha, were among the dozens of family members and friends of the Class Alpha 2025 who attended the ceremony.
Having enlisted in the service last Autumn, the Able Rates have now completed 12 weeks of intensive training including sea survival skills, damage control, marine firefighting, ship familiarisation and ship protection skills.
Following the ceremony, they will commence further specialised training including Seamanship/Gunnery, Mechanical/Engineering and Logistics, before being posted to the fleet as Able Rates.
"Ah, sure look, we were told that when you first go out to the ship, it'll be a bit awkward at first, but you'll find your sea legs eventually," Able Rate Colm McMahon Doran said.