Ship comes in for winning Galway student

When the good ship LE Niamh takes it place in the Naval Service fleet later this Spring, it will owe a special debt of gratitude to Michael Kearney (13) of Oranmore, Co Galway.

Michael, who is a first-year student at Calasanctius College in Oranmore, won the competition launched late last year by the Minister for Defence, Michael Smith, to pick a name for the new patrol ship. His essay stating why he believed Niamh was the obvious choice came first among 19 similar submissions - in a competition which attracted 234 entries from school pupils across the State.

There are three "Niamhs" in Irish mythology, Master Kearney states in his winning article. One became the mistress of Cuchulainn, and another married a warrior whom no one could slay. The most popular legend concerns Niamh of the golden hair, daughter of Manannan Mac Lir, who became lover of Oisin, son of Fionn Mac Cumhail. She bore him three children and shared many adventures with him in Tir na nOg, the land of youth.

There are also Kerry connections with the name, and Michael records the Kerry successes of the Naval Service, including the capture of the Marita Ann gun-running vessel and the haul of drugs from on board the yacht, Brime. In keeping with this Kerry link, the ship's mascot on its funnel could be Fungi the dolphin or Puck, he says.

Michael receives a cash prize of £500 and will be invited to the ship's naming ceremony at Appledore Shipyard, Devon, with two members of his family in several months' time.

His achievement was recognised in his home port just over a week ago when the LE Aisling, under Lieut-Cdr Tim O'Keeffe, berthed in Galway and Cmmdr Jim Robinson of Naval headquarters paid tribute to his efforts.

Second prize of £200 and an invitation to Devon was won by Ross Casey of Clondalkin, Dublin, while third prize of an invite and £100 in cash went to Niamh Higgins of Maynooth, Co Kildare. Another 16 entrants who chose the same name have been awarded £20 book tokens by the Minister.