The 'LÉ Aoife'


The 'LÉ Aoife', a former Irish naval vessel, is the largest of my  maritime murals on the East Pier.

It was inspired by the generosity of a 9-year old girl from Avoca, named Aoife who, having found 50 euros, donated the money to me towards the cost of my paints. I promised to dedicate a new mural to her when I had researched it. Two years later, in 2021, I painted the vessel - my 50th mural on the pier.

The 'Aoife' was built in Verolme dockyard in Cork in 1978. She was named after Aoife, the step-mother of the Children of Lir. She was used by the Irish Navy as a fisheries protection vessel. In addition, she assisted in emergency rescues including the refuelling of Richard Branson's 'Virgin Challenger II' in Newfoundland in June 1986 and assisted in the rescue of over 100 children in a sailing regatta off Dun Laoighre harbour in July 2007.

Although her home port was Haulbowline Island in Cork, she had close ties to Waterford City. She often anchored outside Wicklow Town Harbour and on occasion provided the starter gun for the Round Ireland Yacht Race from the harbour. 

She was decommissioned in January 2015 and donated to the Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta.

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