A Stand Down Parade has taken place to mark the retirement of the head of the Irish Naval Service, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service Commodore Michael Malone.
Commodore Malone retired on Friday after 44 years of service following a ceremony at the naval base in Haulbowline involving a full muster of all Naval Service personnel.
Commodore Malone's career bagan in 1981 when he joined the service as an engineering cadet.
Over the intervening four decades, he held a wide variety of appointments both afloat and on shore including responsibility for the design and building of the Irish Navy's P60 Class Offshore Patrol Vessels.
In 2017, he was promoted to his present rank and into the appointment of Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service.
Separately, the head of policing in the Cork City Garda Division, Chief Superintendent Tom Myers, has also retired.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Mr Myers as an exceptional leader who worked very well with the community and with business leaders in the city.
Originally from Cathedral Road, the Cork city native joined An Garda Síochána in 1984 and spent time in Co Kerry, as well as in Fermoy, Mayfield and Anglesea Street in Cork.
A strong advocate for additional garda resources in the city, his retirement co-incides with a record allocation of 48 new gardaí - 36 new recruits and 12 transfers - to the city division.
