Cavan Civil Defence HQ officially opens

“It’s a privilege to be in this spectacular building and to see the scale and ambition of Cavan Civil Defence, the first responders in our community.”

Those were the words of Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, who alongside Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Philip Brady officially opened the new Cavan Civil Defence Headquarters at Pullamore on Friday afternoon.

The new HQ represents a €1M investment. It comprises three commercial units that have been amalgamated into one single facility to provide training rooms, office space, stores, volunteer welfare facilities, and storage for large equipment and vehicles including boats and ambulances.

Minister Burke told those gathered that, when he thinks of civil defence, he is reminded of professionalism, community and volunteering. “Three cogs,” he added, “that are so vital to an organisation that has a proud history for 70 years.”

He went on to advise that the civil defence will be supported by the Government and conditions for volunteers will be improved because “without volunteers who are at the very coalface of our communities, working through very extreme events, we would be nowhere”.

“We have lived through extraordinary times over the past five or six years and our civil defence members were at the very heart of all that. In the very early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there were very uncertain times and people were afraid, our civil defence members were right at the heart of that response,” he praised.

“In fact the civil defence was the key piece of the jigsaw that fitted into the State’s response. We see too the situation in Ukraine - the first war on mainland Europe in a generation - and the impact that is having on communities, and the civil defence did so much when the Temporary Protection Directive was brought in as a European response,” continued Minister Burke.

On behalf of the State, he expressed his appreciation to the volunteers for “doing so much of the heavy lifting”.

‘Proud’ - Brady

Cllr Brady, meanwhile, pointed to the “remarkable” job that was done in bringing the HQ to fruition.

“The people of Cavan are immensely proud of the members of the civil defence who bear witness to their extraordinary commitment on a daily basis from sporting events and extreme weather conditions to the hour of need when medical intervention is required,” he said.

“These people are true heroes and deserve to be recognised on a national level. In 2021, Cavan Civil Defence won a gold medal at the All Ireland Community and Council Awards (LAMA) for Emergency Response team of the year for its outstanding effort during COVID-19.

“Again and again, the volunteers went above and beyond to assist the community during a time of great need. It took a concerted effort to get this facility to where it is today and I applaud all those who were involved in that. To those who chose to be part of this organisation, congratulations to you all.”

Civil Defence Officer John Maguire thanked the many volunteers of Cavan Civil Defence for their ongoing commitment to the organisation. He also hailed the role of former Civil Defence officers Noel Burke and John McDermott in developing the organisation to its current high level.

“I want to thank the volunteers whose commitment and dedication to serving their communities has earned the respect and support of the people of Cavan, and is the reason we are here today,” he added.

In conclusion, Eoin Doyle, CE Cavan County Council, highlighted how the civil defence was initiated in 1951 in response to a rising atomic threat following World War II.

“Its volunteer members have been active in service to their communities in crises big and small,” he continued before adding that among the “most challenging moments” were the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of flooding and storms, and medical emergencies. “The role of the civil defence in all of these cannot be overstated.

“Cavan County Council identified some years ago the necessity to deliver this facility and through working with all those who wanted the same thing, ensured it came to fruition. Even in times of scarcity, funds have been provided to Cavan Civil Defence to ensure that it continues to provide the valuable service it does.”