There are about 3,000 kms of coastline in Ireland, which means there are plenty of opportunities for smugglers and other ne’er-do-wells to bring in contraband undetected. Guarding the coast is the job of various state agencies, including An Garda Síochána, the Irish Naval Service and the Customs Service . Pictured above is one of the two Customs cutters heading out of Galway Bay – in the background is the Martello Tower by the Flaggy Shore. The Martello Tower was a nineteenth century attempt to prevent an illicit landing of another sort – a French invasion of Ireland.