History of the Irish Naval Service started, and the ships were named "Cliona", "Maev" and "Macha". These three ships were to become a key part of the Naval Service in the 1950s and 1960s. The first formal training of Irish Naval Cadets took place at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, UK in 1947. Between 1968 and 1970, Cliona, Maev and Macha were withdrawn from service. These were replaced by three minesweepers commissioned in 1971: Grainne, Banba and Fola. In 1971 the Naval Service commissioned Verolme Cork Dockyard to build an offshore patrol ship. Named L.É Deirdre, it was the first naval vessel purpose-built in Ireland
Simon Williams (Royal Navy officer) Simon Williams (Royal Navy officer) Rear Admiral Simon Paul Williams, is a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Naval Secretary, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and Flag Officer (Maritime Reserves) from March 2015 to June 2018. Educated at Kingsbridge School, the City University London and the Britannia Royal Naval College, Williams joined the Royal Navy in 1978. After taking charge of the minesweeper , he became Commanding Officer of the frigate in 2001 and of the frigate in 2005. He became Director of Naval Personnel Strategy at the Ministry of Defence in 2008, Commodore of the Britannia Royal