The role played by Clare Civil Defence in promoting youth involvement in volunteerism and the community has received official recognition after the organisation was named winner of the group category in the Clare Garda Divisional Youth Awards.
Headquartered in the Quin Road Industrial Estate, Ennis, Clare Civil Defence boasts 140 volunteer members including 7 members under the age of 20, namely Shauna Hyer (Kilnamona), Amina Ahmed, Chelsea-May Davis, Ciara Mellotte, Hazel Dormer (Ennis), Cian McCarthy (Tulla), Orlaith Lyons (Fountain) and Yasmin Browne (Kilmaley).
Volunteers are trained and qualified in a number of disciplines, including Emergency Medicine, Basic Firefighting, Swiftwater Rescue, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones), Technical Rescue, Search Procedures, Radio Communications and Flood Response.
Cllr. Bill Chambers, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council said, “I want to congratulate the young volunteer members of Clare Civil Defence for dedicating their time and enthusiasm to the organisation and the wider public it serves. The Civil Defence has a long track record of service in County Clare which underlines the strong spirit of volunteerism that exists here.”
Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council also congratulated the organisation, adding, “Our local volunteers are a credit to the national Civil Defence organisation, to Clare County Council, to their communities and to County Clare. The healthy volunteering ethos in this county has resulted in a vibrant, effective Civil Defence unit.”
Clare Civil Defence Officer Noel Carmody accepted the award on behalf of the organisation and its younger volunteer members.
“I am extremely pleased and humbled that the judging committee chose Clare Civil Defence as the recipients of this award, which we were nominated for by An Garda Síochána in Killaloe,” said Mr. Carmody.
He continued, “Our success is down to the exceptional commitment, professionalism and community spirit displayed by our younger members as representatives of the organisation. They have shown that they are valuable members of the community as well as valuable members of the Civil Defence.”
“The commitment and level of training provided by the experienced instructors to this exceptional group of young men and women has proven to be an extremely worthwhile pursuit. Congratulations are due to all of the volunteer members of Clare Civil Defence and in particular, to the younger volunteer members,” concluded Mr. Carmody.