'We bid farewell to two great servants of the Irish Navy': Decommissioned naval vessels leave Cork for recycling 

The Irish Naval Service this week bid farewell to two of its patrol vessels, LÉ Ciara and Orla, with the decommissioned ships set to be recycled.

In a post on social media, the Naval Service published a video of the vessel being towed out of Haulbowline.

“As we bid farewell to two great servants of the Irish Navy, we acknowledge the sadness of all who served with pride on board both ships but to quote from Othello ‘I have done the state some service; they know't. No more of that’,” the organisation wrote.

LÉ Ciara (P42) and LÉ Orla (P41) are set to be recycled along with LÉ Eithne (P31), which was towed out of Haulbowline for the final time last month.

Marine advisers have been appointed to help procure a multi-role vessel to replace the decommissioned flagship.

Meanwhile, two inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) that were delivered to Cork last May to replace the decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara are expected to become operational later in 2024, following a programme of work, crew familiarisation, and training.