Wexford CD holds Annual County Training Day & Awards Ceremony

5 December 2018

Sunday 18th November 2018 saw the members of Wexford Civil Defence stage their county training day at their headquarters in Ardcavan Business Park Wexford. More than 60 Volunteers from Wexford, New Ross and Gorey took part.

The theme for the day was back to “Basics”, looking at the quality of the work opposed to the quantity, with four separate scenarios on the day to challenge the skills of the volunteers:

  • First Aid with multiple casualties
  • Search Skills for missing persons
  • Auxiliary Fire Service with a pump relay
  • Ambulance policy and procedures.

The Civil Defence Welfare Service provided food for the volunteers, casualties and Instructors throughout the day.

The day concluded with the Annual Presentation Dinner in the Riverbank Hotel. Guest speakers on the evening included Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Councillor Keith Doyle, Director of Services Mr. John Carley and Civil Defence College Principal Ms. Róisín McGuire, while representatives from Wexford County Council Fire Services, Wexford Marine Watch, Wexford RNLI, and Wexford Order of Malta also attended. Apologies for inability to attend the Awards Ceremony were received from Minister Paul Kehoe TD, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, Tom Enright, and the Council’s Chief Fire Officer  Paul L’Estrange

Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Councillor. Keith Doyle thanked all Wexford Civil Defence volunteers for their help and support during Storm Emma and congratulated them on their continuing and valued contribution to the people of County Wexford during the year through their attendance at dozens of community events and other exercises.

A number of volunteers were presented with Long Service Medals for 30 years and 10 years of service and certificates for courses completed during the year were also presented.  Patricia Power, New Ross Unit and Breeda Conroy, Wexford Welfare Unit were awarded 30-year service medals while 10- Year Service Medals were presented to Stephen Boland, Gorey Unit, Patrick Murphy, Wexford Unit, Fergus Gallagher, Wexford Unit.

The volunteers from the county made a presentation to newly-appointed Civil Defence Officer Peter O’Connor to mark his promotion – the presentation consisted of a group photo and a bouquet of flowers to his wife Pamela.