The historic Aran islands ferry Naomh Éanna has been dismantled for scrap after efforts to save it failed.
The bow of the ship will be preserved and transported to Galway. The Port of Galway harbour master is expecting to receive the ship’s bow in the coming weeks.
In her time the 483-tonne ferry was the primary connection on the Galway to Aran Islands route, operated by CIE. She was constructed in 1958 at the Liffey Dockyard in Dublin and was one of the last riveted-hull ships built in Europe and one of the last vessels constructed in the Liffey Dockyards, the MV Cill Airne and its sister ship, the MV Blarna, both commissioned 1961.
In August 1958, shortly after entering service, it was involved in the response to the loss of KLM Flight 607-E.
On January 18, 2023, the ship capsized while at Dublin Docks, but it was righted in the following months. On January 12, 2024, the proves of dismantling her began at Grand Canal Dock.
WATCH Corry family trip to Inisheer 1968:
LISTEN: Maura Derrane’s not so romantic memories of the Naomh Éanna
