Still there

The Long Eireann Ciara [aka P 42] moored in Galway harbour for refuelling. Ciara is a former Peacock-class Royal Navy boat – it was called HMS Swallow back then. It spent the first three years of its life patrolling the seas off Hong Kong [which means it is equipped to handle tropical storms and was fitted with air-conditioning]. It is a fast boat, capable of 25 knots which is why it bears the logo of The Roadrunner.

The Irish Naval Service bought 2 of the Peacock class ships – L E Orla is the other one.

Behind Ciara is the Cé na Mára apartment building [attached to the Galway Harbour Hotel], where I lived for a couple of years. And to the left of the picture are the much-talked-about oil tanks which need to be removed before the start of the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Galway at the end of May. As of now, they are still there.