With 16,138 signatures on this petition and 30,000 in support of the Facebook page, Ireland Should Honour Tom Crean we made up for a global following whose voices could not be ignored. Not to mention the Twitter and Instagram media platforms, the Tom Crean Appreciation Society and the media platforms representing the book Crean - The Extraordinary Life of an Irish Hero. In total, over 55,000 global followers made our voices louder to those we wanted to hear us.

Yesterday, 31st January, 2021, marked the historic date that Ireland finally and officially honoured Tom Crean, 101 years after his retirement. The ship you see here is a Research Vessel, RV Tom Crean, and it was commissioned by the Irish government who were fully aware of the growing worldwide numbers in support of our wishes to honour a great Irish Hero.

RV Tom Crean, (doesn't that sound wonderful?), a ship that will play an important scientific role as she undertakes surveying assignments, will be completed in 2022 and is to be based at the Marine Institute in Galway.

The ship more than fulfils an ambition I set out to try and achieve some 11 years ago and who knows - the planned Naval flagship may present us with double cause to celebrate and so this petition will remain open until the naming of that vessel too is announced. 

For now though, it's time to celebrate us reaching the goal and everyone of you who signed this petition had a vital part to play - thank you all and although now, our movements are restricted because of Covid 19, it would be wonderful if we could all gather and celebrate in Galway next year when, please God, times are safer and RV Tom Crean is launched.

Go raibh míle maith agat go léir

Image Credit of RV Tom Crean: A screenshot from the website of the Norwegian naval architect consultancy, Skipsteknisk AS