Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council was honoured to bestow the Freedom of Entry to the County on the Irish Naval Service. The Award was accepted by the Captain of the LÉ Eithne, Commander Brian Fitzgerald, and crew of the LÉ Eithne, which berthed in Dún Laoghaire Harbour especially for the occasion.
Local schoolchildren and members of the public gathered to witness this very special occasion as An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Cormac Devlin, presented the Award to the Irish Naval Service in recognition of its humanitarian service on behalf of the people of Ireland and the European Union. The award is also to acknowledge the duties undertaken by officers and crew of the Irish Naval Service as part of Operation Pontus – the international effort to aid migrants in the Mediterranean.
The Army Number 1 Band led the Colour Party and the crew of the LÉ Eithne into the Harbour Plaza in a stirring display of military pageantry as local schoolchildren waved Irish and EU flags in celebration of the event.
Mary Kennedy was delighted to MC this wonderful event.