History was made at Naval Service headquarters in Haulbowline, Co Cork, yesterday when the first Polish and Portuguese recruits to the service passed out along with 28 Irish men and women.
Ordinary Seaman Grezgorz Ciszek (24) from Katowice, Poland, and Ordinary Seaman Fabio Conceicao (18) from Pombal, northern Portugal, joined their Irish classmates for an inspection parade by Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service, Commodore Frank Lynch.
Beneath a biting wind coming in from the mouth of Cork Harbour, the new recruits stood to attention as they took their orders as Gaeilge from class officer Lieut Patricia Butler.
Ordinary Seaman Ciszek, who has been in Ireland for the past three years and lives in Carrigaline, Co Cork, explained that he had no difficulty picking up the Irish commands for the drill.
"I didn't find it very difficult or complicated. We had great instructors, and they explained everything very well, so everything became very easy."
Ordinary Seaman Conceicao, who has lived in Youghal in east Cork for the past three years, said he was influenced by his father's experiences in the Portuguese navy, and said his younger brother, Christopher, was thinking of following him into the Irish Naval Service.
"We're delighted for him," said Ordinary Seaman Conceicao's father Pedro. "That's what he wants, and we support him in that, and we are so very, very proud."
Among those who passed out yesterday were Stephen Payne (25) from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, who was awarded best recruit; Jeff Murphy (18) from Blarney, Co Cork, who won best kit; and Edward Heffernan (23) from Shanagarry, Co Cork, who won best shot.