One of Clare’s longest serving and most experienced firefighters leaves his post today to take up a more senior position in neighbouring Galway.
Gearóid Blake from Ennis, a 24 year veteran of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service, joined the fire brigade in 1993 as a firefighter. In 1996 he was promoted to sub-station officer.
Following the retirement of station officer Tony Mounsey in 2002 Gearóid was promoted to the new position of whole-time station officer.
The Fire Ireland Team wish Gearóid the Very Best in his new position with #Galway Fire & Rescue Service https://t.co/10xEXsmI5y
— Fire-Ireland.com (@FireIreland) March 3, 2017
While the county’s seven stations are operated by over 70 firefighters on a retained basis, Gearóid became Clare’s first ever full-time station officer based in Ennis. Very few retained stations in Ireland have such a position.
Gearóid was the senior officer based at Ennis fire station but as a qualified instructor in fifteen disciplines, he was also responsible for training firefighters from across the county’s seven stations.
After clocking off this evening for the last time in Ennis, Gearóid will take up his new position at Galway Fire Service HQ on Monday morning.
As Assistant Fire Officer (Operations) Gearóid will help manage ten stations across County Galway.
As a member of senior management, he will once again work under Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Michael Raftery who was previously CFO in Clare.
“I’ve enjoyed my time in Clare and looking forward to the new chapter and new challenge,” Gearóid told The Clare Herald.
“It was very special to be first whole time station officer in my own county and I’m thankful to Clare County Council for that opportunity,” he said.
“When I start in Galway on Monday, it will be a different experience. I’ll be going from sitting in the front a fire appliance to an office job but I will be out and about the county visiting stations too,” Gearóid said.