Key Irish role in D-Day landings to be marked at Navy HQ

An Irishman's role in the success of the D-Day landings and the defeat of Hitler will be recalled at the Irish Naval Service base in Cork Harbour today when the latest recruits graduate at a ceremony.

Their class, Recruit Class Sweeney, is named after Ted Sweeney, the late Irish Coast Guardsman and lighthouse keeper whose weather forecast from Blacksod in Co Mayo was crucial to the success of the invasion.

Mr Sweeney's weather forecast from the western tip of Europe on June 3rd, 1944, persuaded Allied Supreme Commander, General Dwight D Eisenhower, to delay the D-Day invasion by 24 hours.

Despite Ireland’s neutrality during the second World War, the Irish Free State had continued to send meteorological reports to Britain under an arrangement which had been agreed since independence.

Blacksod’s importance was due to the fact it was the first land-based observation station in Europe where weather readings could be professionally taken on the prevailing westerly weather systems.

D-Day was originally planned for June 5th, 1944, but June 6th and June 7th were also pinpointed as possible dates because moon and tide conditions were deemed ideal for seaborne landings.

Unfavourable weather

Mr Sweeney’s first report at 2am on June 3rd showed unfavourable weather conditions for June 5th, so Gen Eisenhower decided to delay the huge operation to invade Hitler’s Fortress Europe.

Then, at 12pm on June 4th, Mr Sweeney sent another report that offered hope to Eisenhower and the Allied commanders and enabled them give the go-ahead for Operation Overlord on June 6th.

Some 5,000 ships and more than 11,000 aircraft carrying approximately 156,000 Allied troops participated in the Normandy landings which led to the liberation of France and ultimately helped defeat Hitler.

Those events from more than 70 years ago will be recalled at Haulbowline Naval Base in Cork Harbour today, when Mr Sweeney's son Edward will watch the class named in honour of his father, graduate.

A presentation will then be made to Edward Sweeney, who will be accompanied by his wife, Rita, at the ceremony to mark the graduation of the 39 new recruits with the rank of Ordinary Seaman.

The new recruits, aged from 18 to 27, are drawn from 14 counties as well as two originally from the UK, and they will compete for awards for Best Shot, Best Kit and Best Recruit.

During their intensive five-month training, Recruit Class Sweeney raised money for several charities, including €6,050 from a “rowathon” in aid of four-year-old Lexie O’Riordan from Ballyvolane in Cork city.

Lexie was born with a rare genetic disorder, Microvillus Inclusion Disease, which claimed the life of her older sister Holly at the age of 13 months in 2005. Lexie needs an organ transplant to survive.

Lexie and her parents Sylvia and Ed will also be present at Haulbowline this afternoon when the cheque will be presented to them by members of Recruit Class Sweeney.