LÉ Eithne | photo © LP Fixit
Grace Croke, Mary Catherine Bolster, the Rev. John McNamee and Anne O'Callaghan of the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians | photo © Tom Keenan
CPO James Hickie, County Cork, met his cousin Dennis Hickey, Upper Darby, Pa. aboard the Eithne. They had not seen each other for 35 years. | photo © Tom Keenan
Cmdr. David Barry and Ireland Deputy Consul Brendan O Caollai | photo © Tom Keenan
Eleanor Driscoll, Philadelphia Councilman James Kenney and Fran O'Brien, president, Navy League of Philadelphia. | photo © Tom Keenan
Edward Costello, Mary Frances Fogg, Joseph Fox and Cmdr. David Barry at the wreath laying ceremony at the Irish Memorial on Penn's Landing. | photo © Tom Keenan
Ensign Aisling O'Flynn and Jeanna Rodgers at Finnigan's Wake 0011 Alan Monks, John Barrett, Shane Hourihan, Karl O'Mahony and Vincent Sweetnam at Finnigan's Wake. | photo © Tom Keenan
Officers and crew of the Irish Naval Service flagship LÉ Eithne standing before the Irish Memorial at Penn's Landing during their July 2009 visit to Philadelphia. | photo © Tom Keenan
Irish Naval Service Ship The Eithne (LÉ Eithne), captained by Cmdr. David Barry, visited Philadelphia July 14-17, berthing at Penn’s Landing. This was the first visit to the City for the flagship of Ireland’s Naval Service.
In 1986, LÉ Eithne became the first Irish Naval Service ship to cross the Atlantic, when she sailed to the US.
The night of their arrival, the ship’s officers and crew were invited to a reception hosted by the AOH at Finnigan’s Wake.
The captain and crew members participated in a commemorative event at the Irish Memorial, Front and Chestnut Streets. Theresa Flanagan Murtagh sang “The Soldier’s Song” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Addressing those in attendance were: Robert Hurst, president of the Irish Memorial; Philadelphia Councilman James Kenney; Irish Deputy Consul General Breandan O Caollai; James J. Coyne Jr., president emeritus of the Irish Memorial; and Cmdr. David Barry. The Rev. William Donovan blessed the wreath laying ceremony.
LÉ Eithne officers and crew members then paraded to the Commodore John Barry statue at Independence Hall for another wreath laying ceremony, along with remarks by members of The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and other Irish organizations. Francesca O’Brien, president of the Navy League of Philadelphia, presented Cmdr. David Barry with a bronze replica of the Com. John Barry statue.Later that evening, Brendan O Caollai and Cmdr. Barry hosted a reception aboard the ship.On Thursday the ship was open to the public; and a match took place between the Philadelphia GAA and ship crew members at Cardinal Dougherty High School.
Later that evening, the Commodore John Barry Irish Center hosted a festive celebration in honor of the ship’s captain and crew.