Limerick's Civil Defence supports the emergency services and provides community support by promoting, developing and maintaining Civil Defence as an effective volunteer based organisation.
Civil Defence Services
In recent years the emphasis has moved to community support and Limerick Civil Defence Members are well and truly embedded in the local community delivering training in First Aid, Rescue, Fire Pump Drills, Welfare, Communications, Kayaking, Abseiling and completing courses in Power Boating, Driving and GPS Navigation. A number of members have also completed Advanced Rope Rescue training in Wales.
Since 2006 Limerick Civil Defence has been preparing to fulfil its role to support the principal response agencies as part of the Major Emergency Management Framework.
Limerick Civil Defence continues to support various local, national and international activities including:
- Land and water searches for missing persons
- Lough Gur Summer Festival
- Cappamore Show
- Chernobyl Children’s Project
- Annual Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage
- Irish Open Golf in Adare
- Milford Harvest Fair
During the cold winter of 2009/2010, members were very much involved in assisting Milford Hospice palliative care staff and the HSE by transporting health care personnel to patients in isolated areas.
There is also a competitive training element to Civil Defence and in recent years Limerick Civil Defence volunteers performed to the highest standard in both the Regional and National Exercises in various locations throughout the country including Bandon, Glengarriff, Tralee, Roscommon, Arklow, Clane and Nenagh.
In recent times, Limerick Civil Defence has participated in exercises with other agencies which have included simulated air crash exercises in Shannon Airport and anti-pollution exercises in Foynes where members got the opportunity to work as part of a team with these other organisations.
The main services originally carried out by the Civil Defence organisation were Casualty, Rescue, Warden, Auxiliary Fire and Welfare services. In recent years two new services were added, Boating and Kayaking. All these services provide the basis for Civil Defence training which takes place mostly during the period September to May annually.
For more information about the Civil Defence click here.
National History of Civil Defence
Civil Defence is a nationwide organisation of skilled volunteers who give their time freely to serve their communities. Its volunteers are its key asset, being motivated, professional and well trained.
Civil Defence was initially set up in the 1950s as part of a national defence response to hazards arising from war time situations such as radioactive fallout, biological or chemical warfare. Following the establishment of local units, instructors, trained at the National Civil Defence School, recruited and trained new members locally.
With the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s the emphasis for Civil Defence changed to one of community support and emergency response. In addition to serving the public in a variety of ways, Civil Defence now also acts as a support service to the Principal Response Agencies ( Limerick City & County Council, An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive ). To this day Civil Defence continues to evolve and strives to meet the challenge of an ever changing world.
Examples of activities and events where Civil Defence has assisted include;
- The national response to COVID-19
- Assisting with establishment of rest centres for Ukrainian refugees
- Water and land searches for missing persons
- Major storms such as Darwin and Emma
- Flooding and Cold Weather Response
- Large community events such as Limerick Riverfest and the Great Limerick Run
- Major events of international interest such as the Irish Open Golf and the JP McManus ProAm
- Various Community Charity Events
Civil Defence Training Classes
Volunteer training classes for all Civil Defence Services are carried out throughout the year.
The following is an example of training delivered;
- Emergency medical response
- Radio communications
- Missing person search ( water & land )
- Radiation monitoring
- Water rescue
- Off-road and severe weather driving
Please contact Civil Defence Officers to discuss training in any of these services.
Cecilia O'Flaherty, Civil Defence Officer, 087 7624164, cecilia.oflaherty@limerick.ie
Leann Curtis, Assistant Civil Defence Officer, 061 556555, 086 0844807, leann.curtis@limerick.ie