Laois Civil Defence, Hospice Walk, St Stephen’s Day

9 January 2012

The 19th annual Hospice Walk took place in the village of Clonaslee in county Laois on St Stephens Day. There is an option of two walk routes, one a 15 km and the second a 10km walk, both taking in some lovely regions of the nearby Slieve Bloom Mountains such as ‘Brittas Lake’, ‘Rickets Rock’ and the ‘Cut’.

For the last 19 years Laois Civil Defence provided first aid points on the walk route and four wheel drive jeeps to traverse the forestry roadways and keep a safe watch on the participants. In recent years the Mountmellick unit supplied first aid cover using their bike unit. Volunteers from the three bases around the county Mountmellick, Durrow and Stradbally also supplied walking groups. This was all monitored from the Mobile Command and Control Unit which was stationed for the duration of the walk the Clonaslee Community Centre.

The walk went off without any serious incidents. Laois Civil Defence is grateful to all the volunteers who turned up in large numbers to assist with the operation