Mayo Civil Defence delegation attends reception at Áras an Uachtaráin

President Michael D. Higgins hosted officers and volunteers from Civil Defence units across the country at Áras an Uachtaráin to mark 75 years of Civil Defence in Ireland.

Francis Power, Civil Defence Officer for Mayo remarked 'in our 75th year it is important that our members are recognised for the commitment they have given to their communities in the good times and during the more difficult and challenging situations they respond to, we were delighted to attend this reception.

READ: Extra dates added as Mayo film premiere attracts huge crowds

The President paid tribute to decades of service by Civil Defence Volunteers stating: “Sabina and I are delighted to mark 75 years since the establishment of the Civil Defence. Whether it be through its service in medical rescue, search and rescue, emergency response, radiation monitoring, or community assistance, the Civil Defence volunteers have shown, time and again, their dedication and response capability in support of the primary emergency services and their local communities.

I take this opportunity to commend all members, past and present, for this work and for their spirit of volunteerism, giving back to their local community and indeed to wider society.”

The Civil Defence is organised on a local authority basis across the State. The organisation was first established by the Government in December 1950, in preparation for a potential nuclear war which was then seen as distinctly possible.

At that time, the emphasis was on war response, including search and rescue, medical first aid, and welfare through rest centres. The modern Civil Defence has evolved into a professionalised volunteer service, specialising in the use of drones and thermal cameras for search and rescue, and operating a modern fleet of response vehicles and boats.

A voluntary organisation comprising of approximately 50 volunteers from the whole county, Mayo Civil Defence provides support to Primary Response Agencies and local communities with highly trained members whose activities are valued by front line emergency services and local communities, attending approximately 100 events annually at a local level..

Many of the non-emergency response duties are in support of local communities. To ensure it can continue to serve local communities, Civil Defence needs volunteers from all communities, and is actively recruiting across the country for a range of skillsets.

READ: Road closure in busy Mayo town planned for next five days