MV Naomh Éanna – Lady of the Isles
On the 12th January 2024, the historic and lovable ferry, the Naomh Éanna was dismantled and scrapped at the Grand Canal Docks where she had resided for the past 35 years and her artefacts donated for historic interest with Galway Port Company getting the bow and Ringsend & District Historical Society gifted the stern. Although she was deteriorating badly, having been capsized since 2023, countless huge efforts and campaigns from local people and groups to protect and save her, sadly, could not change her fate.
MV Naomh Éanna (and also known as St Enda) was a significant ferry that played a crucial role that served as a main link between the Aran Islands in Galway and the mainland. Constructed in 1958 at the Liffey Dockyard, she was one of the last built with a riveted hull construction which was very unique for its time, one of the oldest and one of the final ships built at the Liffey Dockyard. Described as a passenger boat, cargo boat and a cattle boat, it was unusual to have all of them within one ship. But she was special. In August 1958, three months after entering service, the Naomh Éanna was among the ships to respond to the loss of KM Flight 607-E. The islanders and tourists alike, especially in the Aran Islands, relied on her and she was a lifeline, facilitating access to essential supplies, medical services and educational opportunities. She also played a vital role in tourism with visitors on board exploring the rugged beauty of the islands. Rumour has it she also carried famous actors, VIP’s, and millionaires. She gave 30 years of service and was decommissioned in 1986.
In 1989 she was acquired by the Irish Nautical Trust and moved to the Grand Canal Basin and while in this location, the Naomh Éanna had a second life as a business premises by housing a surf shop and sailmakers, and while there was a proposal to turn her into the centrepiece of a ‘maritime quarter’ at the Grand Canal Basin, nothing was ever followed through so she was just left idle. In 2014 she was moved by Waterways Ireland to the Grand Canal graving docks for deconstruction but that was halted due to public opposition.
Various other plans proposed for its preservation included restoring the Naomh Éanna back to its former glory, converting her into a 5-star hotel, a floating museum and a maritime heritage centre, but unfortunately none of these ideas materialised. When the Ringsend & District Historical Society first knew that the Naomh Éanna was in danger of being scrapped, they organised a local campaign to try to halt the destruction, and it really was a last shot to try to salvage this historic maritime ship. Paul Brannock and Billy Ryan, among lots of other concerned locals and historians tried in vain to preserve her legacy, with Paul reaching out to the previous owner, Sam Field Corbett of Irish Barge Fabrication Company Limited (ISBF) who, along with other volunteers played a significant role in the Naomh Éanna’s preservation efforts, trying to acquire funding and grants but to no avail and was unsuccessful as it did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria necessary, even though he had all the ducks lined up, and jumped through so many hoops regarding arduous applications and it was a bitter pill to swallow for him when eventually Waterways Ireland seized and took possession of the ferry and they were all absolutely devastated to learn that a decision was made by the various organisations in the end to scrap the Naomh Éanna at the start of this year.
The Future
Replicating historic ships is a complex undertaking and because the Naomh Éanna had an unique design it did add to the complexity and challenges. The funding was another obstacle with significant costs estimating at a possible €1.7 million, but then again The MV Cill Airne Ferry which was also built in the Liffey Dockyard managed to be restored and is now a beautiful floating restaurant and bar on the River Liffey, so questions have been asked as to why the Naomh Éanna was not protected enough or maintained properly all these years by the various organisations through grants and funding given its historical, iconic heritage? And now there’s also a new worry as to how safe the Graving Docks are, which were built in the 1700’s and owned by Waterways Ireland. There is a new fear that they will be sold and not restored or saved.
The Historical Society were undoubtedly extremely grateful to have been donated the stern of the Naomh Éanna and especially thankful to Eoin Cunningham of Marine Contractors, Cunningham Civil and Marine who went above and beyond to help get the Naomh Éanna back to Ringsend, knowing how important it was to the local people. Finding somewhere to put it was a factor until local parks man Dave O’Donnell had secured a space for it in Ringsend park. Then Lorraine Barry, manager of the Ringsend and Irishtown Community Center proposed it would be more practical and ideal to have it at the back of the centre which would be the perfect spot to have it restored.
And that is the plan! And no better man for the job who knows all about organising restorations of ships, than local maritime history buff of the highest calibre, Richie Saunders. Richie is a merchant seaman, a skilled tradesman and has a technical expertise that is second to none. His sharp intellect and outstanding knowledge of the sea is impeccable. Richie has already temporarily painted the stern in the colour close enough to the original which gives a feel to what it might have looked like, and is also trying to source a good sandblaster to help with the tough job of removing all the rust as it will be a big maintenance job and he needs all the best tools. Richie speaks about the Naomh Éanna as a much loved ship and a very important part of our history as it has been in Ringsend longer than it has in the West of Ireland. Restoring it will take a good while but the plans are to have it back to its original look, and then have it as a local landmark like a shrine in a location in Ringsend when it is finished. Richie has the idea in his head of what it’s supposed to look like so he’s over the moon to be able to be working on giving this part of the ferry new life.
The Naomh Éanna will always have the stories and memories that will keep her legacy alive forever and to honour what a stunning and worthy ferry she was. It is bittersweet that part of her will once again be shining in all her glory as a memorial to be admired after this partial restoration is completed as she deserves to never be forgotten.
Thanks to Paul Brannock, Richie Saunders and Sam Field Corbett for their input.
