A NAVAL Service seaman and diver has been conferred with the first award in memory of Mayo man and Argentinian navy founder, Admiral William Brown.
Able Seaman James Walsh from Cork has been selected as young Naval Service “leader of the year”. He was presented with the trophy in Foxford, Co Mayo, yesterday by Mayo County Council chair Cllr John Cribben.
Admiral Brown’s Argentinian naval victory over the Spanish squadron in 1814 precipitated the South American state’s independence, which was declared 200 years ago this year.
The trophy is named after both Admiral Brown and the late JJ O’Hara, who died in 2008. Mr O’Hara was a founding member of the Admiral Brown society and did much to raise awareness about the role of the famous Mayo man.
Able Seaman Walsh is a recent graduate of the higher certificate in leadership, management and naval studies from the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Cork.
Capt Mark Mellett of Naval Operations Command said Able Seaman Walsh had shown “excellent leadership qualities and constantly proved himself as a young naval leader”.
In a related ceremony, a wreath had been laid at the statue of Admiral Brown on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin, by Lieut Cdr Tom Hobbins, captain of the Naval Service patrol ship LE Orla, as a symbol of the close ties between Ireland and Argentina.