On Monday night last, special recognition was bestowed on the Carndonagh team of Civil Defence in recognition of their achievement in coming first place in the All Ireland Auxillary Fire Service Pump Drill competition in October 2005.
Making the presentation to the team, Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn, Chairman of the Inishowen Electoral Area stated that “I am honoured to be given the opportunity to formally recognise the achievements of this team and in doing so giving acknowledgement to what I would describe as the ‘unsung heros’ of Civil Defence”.
He added “as their motto reads ‘when we’re needed … we’re there’, and this has been the case for over 50 years in Ireland. In 2005 alone Donegal Civil Defence provided support to 72 community activities between May and November with approximately 900 man-hours volunteerism donated to assisting the community. In 2004 and 2005 Donegal Civil Defence assisted Gardaí, Foyle Search and Rescue and the PSNI in the cross-border search for two missing individuals”.
The volunteers of Civil Defence run numerous courses in first aid, auxillary fire fighting, rescue, casualty, boating, radio, welfare and kayaking throughout the county. These courses are generally free of charge and are open to all members of the community.
Also speaking at the presentation Mr. Jim Holohan, Director of Water, Environment and Emergency said “what is unique about Civil Defence is that it is a volunteer based organisation, were in Co. Donegal alone over 100 individuals from every part of the county gives up their free time each week to learn, teach and provide essential services to their community in both emergency and non-emergency situations”.
He added “competitions such as the Auxillary Fire Service Pump Drill competitions, the Kayaking competitions and the multi-skilled competitions provides incentives for members to develop excellent skills and expertise in areas that may someday be essential to saving lives and providing a practical response to a disaster relief”.
“The expertise and skills of the volunteers of Donegal Civil Defence have been showcased over the last number of years with teams from Donegal winning the National Multi-Skilled competition in 2003, the National Kayaking Competition in 2004 and now the Auxillary Fire Service Pump Drill competition in 2005”.
The winning team of the Auxillary Fire Service Pump Drill competition was led by Carndonagh man Danny McConalogue and team members included John Cunningham, Daniel McConalogue, Terence McLaughlin, Columba Gallagher with Anne Marie Monagle and Paidin Doherty as substitutes.
A special word of mention was also given by Jim Holohan to the instructor of the team Eileen Harkin. He said “Eileen, the only lady Auxiliary Fire instructor in the county, passed her firemanship instructor course in June 2004. The Carndonagh team is the first team for Eileen to instruct and to win the All-Ireland competition in your first term is an outstanding achievement”.
The Carndonagh team were presented with a set of Potsmith Pottery plates, hand crafted by Donegal based artist Brenda Smith.
For further information contact:
Anne Marie Conlon
Communications Officer
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 72574
Mob: 087 9192275
Email: amconlon@donegalcoco.ie
Or
Edel Wilson
Civil Defence Officer
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 22315