Ireland's first female naval officers will be commissioned tomorrow by the Minister of State for Defence, Mr Seamus Brennan. Ms Roberta O'Brien, of the Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary, and Ms Orlaith Gallagher, of Portmarnock, Co Dublin, will be commissioned as naval ensigns along with a male colleague, Mr Cian O'Mearain, of Killiney, Co Dublin, at a ceremony at Naval Headquarters in Haulbowline, Cork Harbour.
The Naval Service is now an equal opportunities employer. There are nine female ratings and ratings-in-training, but these are the first female officers to be commissioned.
As naval officers they will be involved in fishery protection and the ongoing fight against drug-smuggling.
They have already had intensive navigation training at sea and weapons training at the Curragh. They will start studying for a BSc in marine engineering at UCG later this month.
The women travelled to Beirut earlier this year on a supply mission to Irish troops on peacekeeping duties in southern Lebanon. The trip took in a number of goodwill calls at various ports in the Mediterranean.
While they attend university, their sea training will be confined to academic holidays during the summer months.
All three new officers are keen on sport. Ms O'Brien has a county championship medal in hurling, Ms Gallagher represented her school, Santa Sabina High School in Sutton, at athletics and basketball, while Mr O'Mearain holds a Defence Forces medal for canoeing.
Each will receive a single gold bar from the Minister at their commissioning tomorrow. They will then officially be naval ensigns.
They have already spent more than two years in training at Haulbowline, the Curragh Military Training College, and at sea.
Ms O'Brien, daughter of William and Roberta O'Brien, joined the Naval Service after attending St Anne's Secondary School; Ms Gallagher, daughter of Oliver and Myra Gallagher, of Portmarnock, joined after school; and Mr O'Mearain, son of Donal and Margaret O'Mearain, of Killiney, joined after attending Blackrock College and Brunel University.
He holds a degree in engineering.
Naval officers normally spend 180 days a year at sea in tours of approximately three weeks' duration.