Standdown Parade for Lt Bryan Gildea (NSR) after 33 Years service


Bryan and wife Bernie
 Lt Bryan Gildea joined the Irish Naval Service Reserve (AN Slua Muiri) as a young recruit in 1968. Following his recruit training he opted for the seaman's division one of the four choices available to recruits following their passing out parade.

During his long service Lt.Gildea moved up the ranks from ordinary seaman to able seaman and eventually was promoted to the non-commissioned ranks as a Petty Officer and then to Senior Petty Officer. It was obvious with Bryan's skills and his enthusiasm, he would eventually be selected to go forward as an officer candidate. Following his officer’s course at the Naval Base at Haulbowline, Bryan was subsequently commissioned as a Naval Reserve Officer in 1985.

Over the Years in the Naval Reserve Bryan showed a keen interest in sailing and indeed was one of the few young N.C.O's that clocked up many hours at sea on the Reserve Sail Training Yacht "Creidne". Needless to say it was not long before now Ensign Gildea was awarded his Offshore Yacht Masters Certificate (one of only two Yachmasters at that time in his unit).

With two qualified Yacht masters within his own company many more training hours was available to the other ranks in his company. Bryan sailed to many ports in the UK and Scotland and many a tale he can tell about his many experiences during cold wet nights on the Irish Sea, and the warm hot days on flat calm seas (these were few and far between).

Bryan was promoted to Lieutenant and eventually appointed the Executive Officer of No.2 Coy. It can be mentioned here that his commanding officer Lt.Cdr. Michael Murphy was high in his praise of Bryan's loyalty and dedicated service to him as his commanding officer. Bryan was quick to instill this loyalty in the officers and men for whom Bryan as the Company Executive Officer was responsible for the discipline of the Officers, N.C.O.s and men in his company




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