Sail away: New officer cadets to begin life in navy

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea took the salute yesterday from five young men and a woman who became the latest batch of officer cadets to be commissioned at the naval base in Haulbowline.

The minister was accompanied on the podium by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt General Jim Shreenan and the Flag Officer commanding the navy, Commodore Frank Lynch.

The six cadets, from five different counties, have completed the first two years of training to become ensigns and will be commissioned as operations and engineering branch officers.