The Naomh Éanna was a cargo ship used as the primary mode of transport for the people of the Aran Islands from the summer of 1958 until its decommissioning in 1986.
It was one of the last full rivet-hulls to be built in both Dublin and Europe. It was built in the Liffey Dockyard in the Alexandra Basin and was owned by CIE (Córas Iompar Éireann/Transport Company of Ireland ).
Local historian Peadar Mór noted that “the new cargo boat is the biggest change in the island”. The old Naomh Éanna boat was the previous cargo boat which couldn’t dock on Inis Meáin. It could only get to 200 metres away from the shore. Everything was brought on the cargo boat – kegs, food, water, and cattle were all dragged in beside curraghs.
To collect cargo, the islanders would have had to row their curraghs out to the Naomh Éanna. I used to call it the steamer. It only came on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. When the new cargo boat arrived, it could bring the cargo straight to the pier. Islander ferries, which could bring passengers to and from the island, was a huge change.
In the above image, you can see the method used to transport the cattle to the mainland. The cow is essentially towed out by the currach, with the cow swimming while someone holds its head above the water. From there, they were harnessed to the crane and brought onto the ship. It was rare, but some cows broke free from the currach and drowned as they were not able to swim without help.
The Naomh Éanna was also a first responder to the crash of the KLM Floyd, a crash-landed plane. Peadar Mór, the last Irish monolingual in Ireland, recalled the time he fell out of the currach on the way to the ship offshore.
The ship’s end of service was driven by the failure of a safety inspection in 1988, and it was brought to Dublin where it got a second purpose as a business. It was also used in the film Michael Collins. Naomh Éanna was then rested in the harbour after its decommissioning.
Recently in 2023, the hull, covered in rust and graffiti, gave way on the starboard side. This sparked a movement for repairs and renovations. However, this sadly failed and she was scrapped in the last few years. Many are sad to see the end of such an amazing and longstanding piece of Irish history and it is certainly a great loss to future generations.
For older generations, the Naomh Éanna brings back memories of long, difficult journeys, rough seas, and what daily island life was like before modern ferries. For younger people, its story shows how much hard work went into keeping the islands connected before better transport systems existed.
Even though the ship is gone now, its history still inspires people to learn about local heritage, maritime traditions, and the importance of protecting Ireland’s historical landmarks.
