Wexford Presentation Night

21 November 2019

Wexford Civil Defence recently held a presentation night that was attended by Minister Paul Kehoe, TD. Chathaoirleach, Cllr. Michael Sheehan, Director of Services, Mr. John Carley, Mr. David Buckley , Principal Officer, Civil Defence Branch, Superintendent James Doyle, Mr. Anthony Byrne, National Ambulance Service, Wexford RNLI, Commdt. David O’Grady, Wexford Order of Malta, Civil Defence Volunteers, Peter O’Connor – Civil Defence Officer.

Over 60 volunteers from around the county received Certificates for First Aid, Radio Communications, Swift Water Training, Welfare Training and Severe Weather Offroad Driving.

On the night Long Service medals were presented to the following volunteers:

40 Year Service Medals

1. Mr. Liam Healy, Wexford Unit
2. Mr. Peter Earle, Ballygarrett Unit
3. Mr. Donal Wafer, Ballygarrett Unit

30 Year Service Medals

1. Mr. Noel Stacey, Wexford Unit

20 Year Service Medals

1. Anne Browne, Wexford Unit

10 Year Service Medals

1. Mr. Conor Barry, Wexford Unit
2. Walter Kent, New Ross Unit

Certificate of Commendation presented
On the 9^th of October while returning home from training, volunteers came across a very distressed person attempting to jump from Wexford bridge.  The volunteers engaged with that person and managed to bring the individual to safety and summon the emergency services. The volunteers remained with the individual until the emergency services arrived and took him into care. Chathaoirleach, Cllr Michael Sheehan  presented Certificates of Commendation to the volunteers involved.

Ciaran Fitzpatrick,
Sinead Furlong,
Jonathan Gethings,
Jordan McGrath,
James Pierce.

Promotions :
Mr. Matt Crispin, FAR Instructor promoted to Second Officer

 

Courses – Events
2019 was an extremely busy year for Wexford Civil Defence.  We provided 65 local training courses to include:
CFR, Community, Employee and Volunteer courses
Driving Assessments
MH & PH
Water Responder
1 x EMT Upskilling Course

Wexford CD had a number of Instructors back to the Civil Defence College during the year for re-certification in: EFR, CFR and FAR Instructor
Clinical Audit

During 2019 Wexford had 35 applications for membership; they now have 20 new recruits in training with the Enniscorthy unit, 5 in the New Ross and Wexford units. Peter would like to welcome the new recruits into Civil Defence and wish them well with their training.

2020 we will focus on re-establishing a unit in the Ballygarret area. We will work with the existing long serving volunteers to recruit into the unit.

Mr. John Carley, Director of Services will retire in December 2019; John became Director with responsibility for Civil Defence in July 2014. John has always supported Wexford Civil Defence with the improvements of the service in Wexford. Peter has worked closely with John on a number of projects since 2016 to include

• Annual Budget increase,
• He supported the doubling of the capital allocation for a New HQ,
• Provision of garaging for vehicles in Enniscorthy, where we now have two vehicles based.
• Provision of new garage facilities in Gorey, two further vehicles will be based in Gorey.

John also established a project to look at the provision of a new Headquarters for Wexford. He provided the resources to produce plans of a new building and pricing.  Wexford CD have looked at several options from a new build to purchase of a building.  Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of his control they could not proceed at this time.  However, the project remains alive. Peter O’Connor would ask all involved to keep John’s project moving and provide a much needed permanent home for Wexford Civil Defence.

 

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