Renaming Campaign for New Naval Ships in Honour of Irish Polar Explorers

14th March 2022

 

Jehan Ashmore

Renaming campaign: In the foreground, HMNZS Rotoiti, one of the pair of former New Zealand 'Lake' class patrol cutters procured for the Irish Naval Service. Credit: Irish Examiner-twitter

A campaign is underway to get new Naval Service ships named after Irish-born polar explorers, including Ernest Shackleton whose ship Endurance was discovered a few days ago, and Corkman Edward Bransfield who's credited as the first person to see Antarctica.

Naval Service ships in recent years have been named after women and writers, but now lobbyists want the country's role in polar discovery recognised.

The Naval Service is to get three new ships and its reserve four smaller boats, so polar enthusiasts believe there's plenty of scope to honour Shackleton and Bransfield and some lesser-known Irish-born explorers.

Two of the new ships are coming from New Zealand, which is one of the closest countries to Antarctica, and the government is looking to build a much larger MRV (Multi-Role Vessel).

Irish Examiner has more on the naming campaign.