Firecall Winter 2019

WINTER 2019

FIRECALL OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DUBLIN FIRE, AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

THE MAIN

EVENT DFB RECRUITS ON FINISHING THEIR TRAINING AND PASSING OUT

BACK IN ACTION THE DFB GAA TEAM’S TRIP TO NEW YORK

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KEEP ON MOVING THE DFB’S SERVICE SUPPORT CENTRE

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DUBLIN FIRE RESCUE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE

PROTECTING THE CITY AND COUNTY SINCE 1862

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EDITOR’S LETTER Editor: Adam Hyland Consulting Editor: Dan Fynes Contributors: Mark Toner, Las Fallon, Dan Fynes, Ray Campion, Eithne Scully, Paul Mc Cann Creative Director: Jane Matthews Designer: James Moore Cover Credit: Dublin Fire Brigade Photography: Dublin Fire Brigade, Ray McMonagle, Trevor Hunt, Adam Hyland, James Moore, Las Fallon, Eithne Scully, Podge Thompson, Senan Moylan, John McCrory, Ray Campion, Johan Fors, Andrè Meurk, Per Nyqvist, iStock Production Executive: Claire Kiernan Publisher: Chesterfox Ltd, T/A Firecall Magazine, P.O. Box 6766, Dublin 2.

Tel: (01) 432 2200; Fax: (01) 6727100 Managing Director: Gerry Tynan Chairman: Diarmaid Lennon Distribution by: Magazine Mailing Ashville Media Group Unit 55, Park West Road, Park West, Dublin 12 Tel: (01) 432 2200 Fax: (01) 676 6043 Publisher’s Statement: The information in Firecall is carefully researched and believed to be accurate and authoritative, but neither the Dublin Fire Brigade Sports & Social Club nor the publisher can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Statements and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the publisher.

Copyright ©2019 Firecall Magazine No part of this may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

letter from the

EDITOR ear readers, Welcome to the latest issue of Firecall, full of news and features from across Dublin Fire Brigade and beyond.

The changing of the seasons has seen us go from a scorching September to a cold December, but the heat has, as always, remained on for the DFB, and we try to cover just some of the events and activities involving its members over the last few months.

It was very interesting to visit the Service Support Unit to see the amount of maintenance and logistical work that goes into keeping the DFB running so smoothly 24/7. My thanks to A/D/O Martin Cooke, Third Officer John Guilfoyle, and all of the team for showing me around and for taking the time to show me how much more than a garage and workshop this unit really is.

I followed up on my first look at the new recruits in action with further visits to see how they got in preparing for and completing their pass out in September. I am sure they will prove to be very valuable additions to the DFB. My thanks to them and to Course Director Joe Mangan, and my congratulations to all of them on their graduation.

The GAA team rekindled their friendly rivalry with FDNY with a visit Stateside in October, and long may it continue to form a lasting bond between the two fire departments. My thanks to Senan Moylan for giving me a rundown of the trip, and for talking so openly about the loss of Adrian O’Grady, who would have been involved.

I must give thanks to Johan Fors, Andrè Meurk and Per Nyqvist of the Gothenburg and Mölnlycke fire stations, who shared their thoughts on what it is like to be a firefighter in Sweden, and to A Watch in Dolphin’s Barn, who were very welcoming, and great to talk to.

It was also a pleasure to talk to retired member Adrian Sutton, whose career makes for an interesting read, and am again in debt to historian Las Fallon for his valuable contribution, as well as all other interviewees and contributors. Thanks to all who helped put this issue together.

I hope you enjoy the read,

Adam Hyland

EDITOR’S PICKS

KEEP ON MOVING

The DFB’s Service Support Centre

32 THE MAIN EVENT DFB recruits on finishing their training and passing out

p BACK IN ACTION

The DFB GAA team’s trip to New York

We are updating our mailing list. If your contact details are out of date, please email: adam.hyland@ ashvillemediagroup.com

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SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

CONTENTS WINTER 2019

32

FEATURES 13 NATIONAL EMERGENCY SERVICES DAY 14 NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY WEEK 16 KEEP ON MOVING

The Service Support Centre is more than just a garage

22 THE 4 PEAKS LADDER CHALLENGE 24 WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES

FF/Advanced Paramedic Eithne Scully’s medals haul

30 FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT The DFB V Garda Boxing Match for Charity

2

32 THE MAIN EVENT The DFB Recruits on pass out

39 EASTER 1916 COMMEMORATION

DFB receive medals for service

13

49 MARATHON MAN

Podge Thompson and Team’s Feats of Endurance

54 BACK IN ACTION

The DFB GAA Team’s Trip to New York

61 SANTA CLAUS CAME TO TOWN

The Annual Children’s Christmas Party

54

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4TH JULY

Check out more features and news from past issues at FIRECALL.IE

26 64

REGULARS 01 EDITOR’S LETTER 04 SECRETARY’S FOREWORD 08 DFBSSC UPDATES 10 DFB IN BRIEF 26 TUNED UP

The DFB Pipe Band

40 S TATION PROFILE

A Watch Dolphin’s Barn

43 S OCIAL NETWORK

Social Club Nights Out

44 I NTERNATIONAL STATION PROFILE

Gothenburg and Mölnlycke

47 DFB HISTORY Las Fallon

52 G OLF

The All-Ireland Fire Service Golf Championships

58 R ETIRED MEMBERS

Adrian “Aido” Sutton

62 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 64 TRAVEL Strange spring festivals to experience

68 BOOKSHELF 71 TECHNOLOGY

The latest innovations for the emergency services

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FOREWORD

Honorary Secretary’s

FOREWORD elcome readers to our winter 2019 issue of Firecall, taking a look at recent events involving the Dublin Fire Brigade and our Sports and Social Club.

The DFBSSC committee has been very busy over the last few months, and we have been glad to see so much activity amongst our members. I must congratulate Eithne Scully for her outstanding success at the World Police and Fire Games, John McCrory for his great work in raising so much money with the charity boxing match against An Garda Síochána, and Podge Thompson and the team who raised money and awareness through their endurance races at home and abroad.

Halloween was of course a busy time once more, but we also saw the DFB take part in public events that help to raise our profile, both at home and abroad. These included National Emergency Services Day, Fire Safety Week, and our 1916 Commemorative medal ceremony.

It was great to see the GAA team make their trip to New York to play the FDNY, and am glad to hear the event was a great success.

The relationship between the DFB and other fire services across the globe is something we aim to encourage and cherish, and this trip will hopefully lead to a reciprocated visit from our colleagues in the States very soon.

For those who have not put much thought into how our fleet and equipment manages to keep us on the roads every day of the year, the feature on the Service Support Unit will be an interesting read.

The work done at Stanley Street is pivotal to the efficient running of the DFB, and I must thank the team there for their contribution to this issue.

As the feature on the new recruits shows, their dedication and hard work has finally paid off as they start their new careers as members of the DFB. Their preparation for pass out, and the day itself, has been covered in the second part of a series, and I am sure it will bring back memories for many of us. I would like to congratulate them all on their success, and welcome them into the DFB. Also in this issue, retired member Adrian Sutton shares some stories from his career, and A Watch Dolphin’s Barn are our profiled station.

Our international profile is Gothenburg and Mölynlycke in Sweden, who we hope to see in the very near future.

We are all deeply saddened by the passing of S/O Adrian O’Grady, whose extraordinary work with the CISM team, and his warmth and generosity, will have a lasting impact on the DFB, as was reflected in the send-off he received on his last turnout. Our deepest condolences go out to his family.

DAN FYNES

A friendly reminder to order your new ID card by emailing idcards@ dbfssc.ie with an attached headshot (on a neutral background), your name, pay number, station watch and location.

We are trying very hard to make sure that all DFBSSC members receive their copy of Firecall. Anybody who is not receiving theirs should email the editor Adam Hyland with their address: adam.hyland@ashvillemediagroup.com

My thanks to all who contributed to this issue.

Dan Fynes

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Stay Afloat – Stay in Contact ‘Before you go afloat, check weather and tides. If unsuitable, or if in any doubt cancel your trip and stay safe.’

• Plan your trip carefully and never go out alone • Let someone ashore know where you are going and when to expect you back • Carry a means of communication for raising the alarm should you get into difficulty (e.g. VHF Radio, PLB) • Check the Safety on the Water website for advice and the full range of safety guidelines

Never ever swim alone

In an emergency, call the Coast Guard on Marine VHF CH. 16 or call 112 / 999

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

SEASONAL FLU VACCINE As we head toward the autumn and winter months, the HSE is calling on people to protect themselves again influenza by getting the seasonal flu vaccine.

I

nfluenza (flu) is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. Flu affects people of all ages, with outbreaks occurring almost every year. Flu symptoms come on suddenly with a fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue.

This is different from a cold which is a much less severe illness compared to flu. A cold usually starts gradually with a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose. Symptoms of a cold are generally mild compared to flu.

Flu is predictable. In some instances, flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death.

Serious breathing complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis, to which olderpeople and those with certain chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible. Pregnant women may need hospital treatment and hundreds of people die from flu each winter. This year the seasonal (annual) flu vaccine protects against four common virus strains.The flu virus changes each year this is why a new flu vaccine has to be given each year.

The best way to prevent flu is to get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for

• All those 65 years of age and over • pregnant women • those with long term medical conditions e.g. heart or lung disease • all frontline healthcare workers including carers Vaccination should ideally be undertaken in September or early October each year. Flu vaccines have been used for more than 60 years worldwide and are very safe. Flu vaccine contains killed or inactivated viruses and therefore cannot cause flu. It does, however, take 10-14 days for the vaccine to start protecting you against flu.

• The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups whohave a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

• GPs and pharmacists charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘GP Visit Card’.

More information is available from your GP, Public Health Nurse or pharmacist.

www.hse.ie/flu provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have about flu.

PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE If you are over 65 or have a long term medical condition you should also ask your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine which protects against pneumonia, if you have not previously received it.

You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as the pneumococcal vaccine. #YourBestShot

FOR MORE INFORMATION Find out more about the seasonal flu vaccine and how you can take action atwww.hse.ie/flu

FIRECALL WINTER

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SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB UPDATE We take a look at recent events for members of the Dublin Fire Brigade Sports and Social Club (DFBSSC).

STATION REPRESENTATIVES: NO. 1 Ray Campion (B) Shane Tierney (D) NO. 2 Martin McCord (D), Alan Doyle (B) NO. 3 Ger Corcoran (C), Brian Gilbert (A) NO. 4 Deirdre Barry (C), Joe Moran (A) NO. 5 Kevin Conlan (B) NO. 6 Ger Ryan (A) NO. 7 Gary Mason (A), John Walsh (B) NO. 8 Dean Kelly (C) NO. 9 Neil Quinn (C) NO. 12 Ray Kenny (A), Stephen Breen (B)

I

NO. 13 Mick Ratchford (C)

t’s been another busy year for the DFBSSC that has again seen our membership numbers rise, and we look forward to putting the plans together with members new and old to improve on the great year we had last year. The committee has been working hard all year to provide the best for our members. For the first time in many years we have a full committee, and I would like to thank them for their hard work through the year.

CLUB COMMITTEE

HQ Alan Daly (A), Sean McDomhnaill (B), Paul McCann (C), Siobhan Talbot (D) RETAINED Glen Fitzgerald (Balbriggan) ERCC Podge Thompson (D) W/S & EMD Paul O’Toole OBI Paul Greene

CHAIR

Declan Rice

TREASURER

Simon Finglas

HONORARY SECRETARY

Dan Fynes

8

RMA Frank Nugent, Tommy Doyle TRUSTEES Willie O’Leary, Dave Snee, Tony Devoy

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SPORTS AND SOCIALCLUB

CLUB EVENTS GRANTS We have provided many grants for our members in the last year, some of which included: • Station improvement grants • Grants for members travelling as representatives of DFB to the USA, China, Barcelona, France and Africa, to name just a few • Grants for our various DFB sporting teams, including GAA, Rugby, Cycling, Soccer, Golf, Athletics • CISM family nights • Inter-district competitions • Anniversary class reunions

SOCIAL EVENTS We have hosted two sets of Watch nights that have been available to attend by all members of the Club. The Club social nights have been well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Thanks to the Social subcommittee for all their hard work in organising them, in particular, Paul McCann, who pulled it all together.

We held another hugely successful Children’s Christmas party that was very well attended and we have settled in well to the Castleknock Hotel.

Thanks to all the committee and staff for their hard work: Without it, the event would not run as well.

Our summer party in the training centre was also a great success. It was well attended, and a great day was had by all, and bar one shower, the weather was good too, which always helps. Thanks to all that made it possible.

There was no retirement function held last year, but the plan is to hold one early in this new year, but this will depend on numbers.

TRIP AWAY 2019 also the first trip away organised by the DFBSSC in many years. The trip to the Hamptons was one that will not be forgotten any time soon by those that went. I don’t think it will be

as long before the next trip happens.

Thanks to all that made it such a memorable time, especially our hosts, The Southampton Fire Department.

ST PATRICK’S DAY St Patrick’s Day was as good as ever, with more than 120 F/Fs in the DFB contingent on the day. There were some new faces from the DFB, which is always great to see, as well as visiting groups from the USA, Auckland, South Africa and the UK. Thanks to all who gave up their time to look after our guests over their time in town. It went a long way towards giving them a trip they will never forget, just as we had on our trip away.

DECEASED MEMBERS MASS The annual Deceased Members Mass was held in November, with refreshments afterwards in the Teachers club. Last year saw an increase in the number of serving members attending the mass, which is great to see. The mass presents an opportunity for all DFB members to remember and reflect on the family, friends and colleagues we have all lost.

MONTHLY DRAWS The monthly draws were reintroduced in 2018 and have proven very successful amongst members. With five prizes per month, 60 lucky members received prizes for the year. Due to logistical reasons, it has not been possible to do the draws on a monthly basis recently, but we are looking to change this for 2020.

THE WINNERS FOR JUNE – DECEMBER WERE: June: €100 Arnott’s voucher P. Fox (D12); B. Mearns (B12); M. Tuohy (B2); A. Murphy (A8); S. Leonard (B5) July: €100 Dundrum SC voucher C. Farrell (A1); J. Brennan (B1);

D. Walsh (D6); A. Penrose (A5); S. Good (A8) August: €100 Blanchardstown SC voucher P. Cussen (A3); S. Dillon (OBI); C. McGovern (D6); L. Sweetman (B ERCC); P. Wickham (A5) September: €100 restaurant voucher D. McLoughlin (C5); N. Farrell (D1); T. Gallagher (A12); S. Crowley (Skerries); K. Finlay (D ERCC) October: €100 Tesco voucher A. O’Neill (A4); C. Keegan (B4); J. Sergeant (A1); J. Hedderington (D3); C. Roche (C4) November: €100 Circle K voucher S. Cushen (C13); S. Gill (OBI); C. Lalor (B3); P. White (DHQ); F. Kiernan (OBI) December: €100 Dunnes Stores voucher J. O’Raw (D2); A. Byrne (D5); M. Wilson (HQ F/P); J. Shannagher (D8); M. Woods (Skerries) Congratulations to all our winners!

To collect your prizes, please contact a member of the committee. All prizes must be collected in person and signed for. If prizes are not collected within three months, they will re-submitted into the next set of monthly draws.

FINALLY Thanks to all our members for your continued support. If you have any feedback or suggestions as to how we might improve things, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or any member of the committee. We look forward to 2020 and all it will bring with it.

Until next time, Dan Fynes, Secretary DFBSSC

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DFB IN BRIEF

DFB

A recap of Dublin Fire Brigade news and events over the past few weeks and months.

A multi-agency response to an EMS call at a quarry in Swords in August An aerial shot taken from a drone of crews at the fire at Leonard’s Corner at the end of October

DFB historian Las Fallon (right) with retired members and FF/P Willie Birmingham Jr at Las’s lunchtime lecture on Willie Birmingham at City Hall in October

FF/Paramedics Laurence Ging, Terry Crosbie and Sean Hayden representing the DFB at the Firefighter Challenge in Watford, where they competed against firefighters from the UK and 16 other countries

Saying goodbye to FF/P Joe Crowe, who joined in 1981 and served 38 years, finishing as badge No.2 in the brigade. C Watch turned out in force as he paraded in HQ. Enjoy the next chapter Joe!

DFB paramedics taking part in a cardiac arrest simulation at the Mater

To celebrate 120 years of DFB’s ambulance service, we teamed up with Brian Collins to produce a 1:76 scale limited edition model

FFs from D Watch Dolphin’s Barn taking part in the Relay for Life 24 hour charity walk in aid of the Irish Cancer Society in August

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DFB IN BRIEF

Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

Newlyweds Richard Sutton and his wife Amy after their marriage in Finglas, with a guard of honour from his colleagues

@DubFireBrigade

Some of the Frontline MoBros after their first week of their Movember campaign

Minister Eoghan Murphy with FFs from Tara Street at the launch of BFireSafe@School, a programme to increase fire safety awareness at post-primary level

We said goodbye to Thomas “Tomo” Williams of Dolphin’s Barn station as he left the DFB after 36 years of service Hi-line refresher training at Dublin Bay Power Plant

Supporting Wear a Hat Day to raise awareness of brain tumours

FFs at Dolphin’s Barn get into the Halloween spirit Sub-Officer Darren O’Connor on Ireland AM to talk about Halloween safety

The recruits take part in an inter-agency Mass Casualty Incident training exercise in November

Resting at the destination as 50 FFs cycled to Carlow in aid of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in September, raising more than €27,000 in the process

Filming a staged RTC scene at the OBI for the Paediatric Trauma Conference in November

FF/P Mark O’Brien was laid to rest in November after suddenly passing away. He will be fondly remembered for his encyclopaedic knowledge of Dublin

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EMERGENCY SERVICES DAY

A DAY OF THANKS The DFB took part in the National Emergency Services Day activities in September.

M

ore than 1,500 members of the emergency services took part in a parade on 7 September to celebrate National Emergency Services Day, with the DFB once again making an impressive mark on the occasion.

Now in its sixth year, the event is the official day of recognition of Ireland’s frontline emergency services, and gives the public an opportunity to thank them for their valuable work.

Members of the DFB and the Pipe Band had made an appearance on The Late Late Show the previous night to highlight the event, and give a taste of what was to come.

The day opened with a skills

display from DFB members and other frontline services before the DFB Pipe Band took centre stage to lead the parade from Parnell Square to Dublin Castle.

The Day continued with the public invited to check out the equipment and vehicles used in the frontline, with food and family fun on hand to keep everybody happy.

Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe said: “It was an honour to attend the parade today. I was accompanied by my Aide de Camp Derek Fox of the Dublin Fire Brigade, and I’d like to thank all of the frontline emergency services for all you do.”

The DFB also took the opportunity on the day to raise funds for charity,

with the latest recruits taking part in their 4 Peaks Challenge for BUMBLEance, while other DFB members collected money at Dundrum Town Centre for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

The DFB looked as impressive as ever on the day, and great thanks must go to all who attended.

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FIRE SAFETY

SPREADING THE SAFETY MESSAGE Fire Safety Week and a Halloween campaign brought the message of safety to the fore for the DFB in October.

CFO Keeley with Minister Flanagan and Chief Superintendent McMenamin at the launch of Operation Tombola One of the Fire Safety Week pop-up clinics

O

ctober is always a busy month for the DFB, and this year was no different as we helped launch two campaigns aimed at reducing injuries and loss of life.

National Fire Safety Week, the annual campaign jointly run with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, was officially launched on Monday, 7 October. The theme for this year is “Safer Together”, with a focus on encouraging members of the community to visit vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours to ensure they are mindful of fire safety, have working smoke alarms, and an escape plan in the case of a fire.

The launch saw the DFB take part in an extensive media and community outreach campaign that included air time on Ireland AM and on national radio, while social media videos and other posts highlighted the need for fire safety in the home and the importance of helping vulnerable people in the community maintain a safe home too.

Our community fire safety programme saw Tús workers visit elderly people and installing smoke alarms for them, while pop-up fire safety clinics were held at shopping centres, libraries and hospitals across the city and county.

DFB members were on hand at these clinics to offer advice on fire safety in the home, and free smoke detectors were also handed out to members of the public.

HALLOWEEN A Halloween safety campaign was also launched on Monday, 21 October, at the Tara Street HQ, aiming to

highlight the dangers of illegal fireworks and the penalties people can face if they are caught with them.

Alongside CFO Dennis Keeley, the campaign was launched by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan TD, and Chief Superintendent for the Dublin Metropolitan Region North Central Patrick McMenamin.

Minister Flanagan said: “It is really important that anyone who intends to illegally purchase fireworks knows that these devices can be extremely dangerous and cause very serious injuries. Fireworks may be beautiful to watch, but can be devastating if handled incorrectly.”

CFO Dennis Keeley said that while the number of supervised events in the community has resulted in a decrease in calls to bonfires in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of ambulance call outs connected to the use of fireworks.

“It is all around the misuse and use of illegal fireworks,” CFO Keeley said, adding that it is important that parents and guardians of young children know where they are and make sure they are supervised.

The campaign is in support of Operation Tombola, a Garda initiative to address all aspects associated with the policing of the Halloween period, that aims to prevent and detect the sale and organised importation of fireworks in the lead-up to Halloween.

DFB members again took to the road to spread the message of fire safety at Halloween, with Sub-Officer Darren O’Connor sharing advice on Halloween safety on Ireland AM, and D/O Dave Kavanagh visiting schools to highlight the hazards and fun side of Halloween to pupils across the city.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

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Dublin Port is one of five major ports classified as a Tier 1 / Tier 2 port in the National Port Policy, categorised as a core / comprehensive port in the EU’s TEN-T network. Its large share of national port volumes, particularly

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SERVICE SUPPORT

KEEPING THINGS MOVING The DFB’s Service Support Centre plays a pivotal role in making the DFB operational 24/7.

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SERVICE SUPPORT

“

W

hen people hear garage, they think of a small workshop, but this place is much bigger than that and has a lot more roles than just fixing and maintaining vehicles,” A/D/O Martin Cooke explained to me on a recent visit to the Stanley Street site. “That’s no small task in itself, given that there are 115 vehicles in the fleet that need to be maintained and serviced, but we are more than just maintenance: we supply an extensive and comprehensive service that enables the DFB to keep moving on a daily basis. That’s why we are now called the Service Support Unit, rather than the garage.”

As he showed me around the massive store rooms, workshop, decontamination unit, laundry and pharmacy, that point became clear, and while civilians may not even know the place exists, the sheer volume of work done here may be news to some DFB members too.

A few months later, Third Officer John Guilfoyle, who has been overseeing operations here for five and a half years, echoes the thoughts of A/D/O Cooke as he too shows me around. “There is so much to cover here. People joke with us that we do nothing down here. They don’t see it, but they don’t complain about the service support, and that’s a compliment for us. DFB members arrive into their station and have everything they need, everything is working. From our point of view, if we are doing our job well, we usually hear nothing. In many ways it’s the unglamorous part of the operation.

The key to it is planning and supply change management, but it’s a very broad role.

“Part of my brief is to oversee logistics and equipment. Our principal function is to offer the support services required by operations – that includes the fleet, equipment, buildings overseen by property maintenance manager Andy

Kavanagh, and the maintenance and compliance of our equipment: All the supports that keep the operational show on the road. Our vehicles cover 1.7million kilometres annually, with our ambulance service alone covering in the region of 90,000 calls across 12 ambulances, and those 12 cover 1million kms. Our fire fleet do roughly 35,000 calls, and they would cover about 800,000 kms per year. So, it’s a big operation in terms of fleet.”

THE FLEET While routine checks are done on all vehicles at their stations, the ambulances are brought into the garage weekly, while the fire fleet are brought in every three months, and with more than 4,000 routine repairs done every year, managing this involves a huge amount of planning.

“We have a fleet inspector, who makes out a structured fleet management plan, and that is structured across the fleet annually,” T/O Guilfoyle tells me. “On top of that, all our HGV vehicles undergo CVR testing. In terms of activity, on average we cover around 4,000 non-scheduled repairs that are

Third Officer John Guilfoyle oversees operations

booked in on a daily basis. If crews at the stations find anything wrong, they report it to us through a central reporting system that comes in here.

“We also manage and maintain in the region of 12,000 pieces of operational equipment, ranging from hydraulic gear to general firefighting tools, hoses, pumps, all the firefighting and EMS gear. Some is done in-house and some by external contractors, which has to be compliant because it is life-critical safety equipment.

“It’s a huge operation that involves a structured plan dictating key performance indicators and key activities we must complete. I have a reporting system that is fed in through the staff here, so at a management level I can see where we are in terms of maintenance, certifications, etc.”

While the amount of work done is immense, there is a relatively small team, all of whom play a pivotal and mostly unseen role for the DFB. “We have an inspector, five mechanics, a D/O, and five people in our equipment section, so it’s a tight little operation, despite its size,” T/O Guilfoyle says. “We also have two admin staff here looking

The PPE laundry is one of the most advanced in Europe

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SERVICE SUPPORT

after accounts and vehicle records – Altona and Noleen - and an accounts section in Tara Street, working in the background, processing more than 2,500 supplier payments and purchase orders per year in the required prompt fashion, and monitoring expenditure. That’s a key function that is often overlooked too, but they are key.”

STORES Keeping track of the numerous comings and goings of equipment, vehicle parts, stock and consumables would be almost impossible without the proper systems in place, and T/O Guilfoyle shows me around the store rooms to show how this is done.

“We have seen a major increase in the use of IT, which helps produce a lot of management reports and data, which enables us to structure the service in terms of having the right equipment in the right place at the right time,” he tells me. “Our asset management system also helps us to plan in terms of replacing assets, and this also manages testing, servicing, etc, flagging what tests are due and giving us structured reporting. So, if you have 12,000 pieces of equipment, we can key in end of life data, and that enables us to form a strategic five-year plan to see what is coming up this year, next year, etc. If we can project that, we can project the financial requirements. So, certainly, IT plays a big role now.”

Asset Manager A/S/Off Paul O’Toole shows me that is involved.

“We take each piece of equipment as it comes in and scan it so that it is added to the system,” he says.

“All information about that piece of equipment can then appear on the system – service dates, end of life, any repairs – and the system is automated with colour coding to tell us when it is due to be serviced, replaced, etc. This system, which T/O Guilfoyle brought in a few years ago, is critical to how we operate now.

“Each serial number and code is unique to each piece of equipment,

A/S/Off Paul O’Toole and FF/P Stephen Cleary

and this is an essential tool to have because we need to be able to monitor all information regarding each piece of equipment in order to ensure they reach safety compliance and are fit for purpose for our members.”

EQUIPMENT As we walk through the vehicle parts stores, we are met by A/S/

Testing vehicle hydraulics

Off Stephen McMenemy, who is in charge of equipment maintenance.

“Stephen is what we like to call our quartermaster,” T/O Guilfoyle says.

“If he is having a bad day, I am having a bad day, because he is key to the operation working.

“When the crews check their equipment on the road or at the station and make out their list of what

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SERVICE SUPPORT

The nuts and bolts of the operation

A/S/Off Stephen McMenemy

DFB Pharmacist Ken Kelly

they need, they send it in by email so that we can get it ready. Stephen deals with all of the stores and stock, and requests for equipment. There’s a balance between having all of the equipment that is needed, and not having too much that it has to be disposed of. It’s a fine line.”

A/S/Off McMenemy tells me that like with any major operation,

logistics is hugely important. “This place makes sure that everything is 100% all of the time, that every vehicle has everything it needs on it, from a crowbar right up to essential lifesaving equipment. We have a very good stock management system called Imprest Stock. It’s like a minibar in a hotel, when you take something off the shelf it is recorded on the system,

and it works very well because we have never run out of parts.”

PHARMACY Moving into the main warehouse, I see the shelves are filled with everything from stretchers to HGV wheels and pallets of water, but to the side is the new dedicated pharmacy run by FF/P Ken Kelly, which

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SERVICE SUPPORT

distributes controlled medications to the ambulance crews.

“In line with Clinical Practice Guidelines, there are more drugs a paramedic can use, so we have quite a lot of medications in the supply chain that have to be managed, and that has a lot of requirements in terms of dates, storage, etc,” T/O Guilfoyle says. “The medicines have to be kept separately from other supplies, with some of the medications stored at specific temperatures. Shelf life has to be strictly adhered to, so again everything is put onto a management system by Ken, which also keeps track of what is coming in and going out.

“He receives all orders for medication and makes sure there is nothing on the list that they are not authorised to have, so it is an important part of the job.”

A/S/Off McMenemy adds: “The pharmacy is really well run, and it has to be. Everything needs to be in the right place and records need to be kept immaculately. Ken is great at that. He set it up in 2018, and has been working wonders ever since.

When he is off, we have to try to keep to his high standards, which is a tall order.”

GARAGE We go down to the garage workshop, where the team are busy running checks on a HGV, and while foreman Fran and John “Horace” Fitzgerald oversee things, mechanic Keith Lambert is pushed into frame for a photo. “Keith is a top mechanic,” S/O McMenemy tells me. “We still call him the apprentice because he is the newest here, even though he has been here a good few years now. He and the other mechanics have to work to very high standards, and you can see that it is a multi-faceted job they have.”

PPE Maintaining equipment includes all of the DFB PPE gear, and T/O Guilfoyle tells me that they now have one of the leading PPE management systems

in Europe. “We have a database that tells us what we need to know about every garment - where it is, what conditions it has been subjected to - and we do the washing and maintenance here at our dedicated laundry facility to ensure they all comply to the standards in place for structural firefighting PPE. “We encourage our members after any heavy-duty incident to send their PPE back. Everybody has a spare set, so for their long-term health we don’t want people wearing smoky gear. It gets a certified wash, dry and inspection. Our expert in garment care from Hunter’s, Tatiana, is the external contractor for this part of the operation, and she individually inspects every garment. They are all sent back out within two days, ready to be worn again. We process, clean, inspect and repair more than 2,800 sets of PPE every year.”

DECONTAMINATION Also on site is a decontamination unit, where ambulances can drive in and have the vehicle and crew cleaned thoroughly. While the vehicle and every part within it is sterilised in a two-hour process, personnel take turns to move through the unit and disrobe, shower, and change one by one in a warm, sterile and private cubicle. Anything that can’t be cleaned is disposed of.

“We have never had anyone actually get contaminated, but rather than taking the chance of someone bringing contamination back to their station, or even the psychological side of it, we go through the procedure carefully,” A/S/Off McMenemy tells me. “The fact that it never happens only goes to prove that it is 100% effective.

“Ambulances also come in on a scheduled basis from each station for a deep clean done by Noel Donovan, who is very thorough, taking two weeks to clean every single part.”

While there is so much to do here, the Service Support Centre is seeing an increased workload as new

vehicles, equipment and management systems come on board.

CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT “As well as advancements in our PPE, our drug storage, and monitoring of our equipment, which has been completely updated, we have a continuous cycle of improvement, which we are constantly reviewing.

That includes environmental issues, so one of the things we are looking at now is the removal from our supply chain of PFOS foams, which can be environmentally damaging, so we have a two-year cycle where we want to compare it to more environmentally-friendly firefighting foams, which is a big step. That would require taking in every firefighting vehicle, looking at the foam delivery system and calibrating it for an environmentally-friendly foam. This would require a lot of technical work.

“Then we have the new swift water rescue equipment, and this year we have brought in some new vehicles.

We have introduced a new Tunnel Response Vehicle, three new Class B fire tenders, we are introducing three new D/O vehicles, a new paramedic vehicle and 4x4 vehicles for challenging weather conditions, so it has been quite interesting, but busy.”

With the increased use of IT, constant modernisation and a dedicated team, the Service Support Centre is able to manage all of this work, which is in itself a remarkable achievement.

The sheer number of responsibilities are a major challenge, but are also rewarding. T/O Guilfoyle says that keeping everything in service operational within financial constraints is difficult. “We need to have a good logistical and financial plan in place,” he says, “but we have a well-oiled machine, and the most rewarding thing about the job is knowing that we have played our part in keeping the operational show on the road.”

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4 PEAKS CHALLENGE

PEAKS OF FITNESS Class 1/2019 helped raise valuable funds for a good cause on National Emergency Services Day.

W

hile National Emergency Services Day took place on Saturday, 7 September, the recruits from Class 1/2019 also took time out from completing their training and preparing for pass out to use their fitness to take part in the 4 Peaks Ladder Challenge that day.

From 10am to 2pm on Henry Street, the recruits took turns to climb a total of 3,368 metres, the equivalent of Ireland’s four highest peaks, to raise money for BUMBLEance, the Children’s National Ambulance Service, with support also coming from the Irish Blood Tranfusion Service.

Over the past number of years, Dublin Fire Brigade has made strong bonds with this amazing charity, and each week DFB FF/Ps volunteer their free time to the service to help provide sick children with a fun experience in their time of need.

“The charity is for a great cause, and it shows the recruits that charity is a big thing within the DFB, and that there is a lot going on outside of the job,” A/D/O Joe Mangan says. “The recruits know they will be representing the DFB. They collected money, climbed the ladder, met the public, and they all turned out, so that was great. They put a lot of work into that, and then 12 of them marched in the Emergency Services Day Parade, and that was a big deal for them.”

Class 1/2019 member Darren Donnelly was one of the 12 who got to march in the parade following his turn on the ladder, and was proud to

represent the DFB in public for the first time. “My picture was floating around on social media for a while because of that, so that was great.”

Fellow class member Keith Russell also enjoyed taking part. “There was a lot of good banter with the public, doing the PR role. The first dip of the toe into the waters of representing the DFB in public.”

Ross Bell is full of praise for the BUMBLEance service. “It was very good to take part, it’s a very good cause,” he says. “Fair play to their crew.

I don’t think people really appreciate it

until they have to use the service, just like us in the fire service.”

Michael Kiernan also felt proud to represent the DFB in public for the first time. “It was a very good response, for a very good cause. It’s a distinguished organisation carrying out important work, so you have to carry yourself well, and I enjoyed it.”

Every one of the recruits was amazed at the generosity of the public, who helped the DFB to raise €6,583 for the charity, which was handed over on Class 1/2019’s pass out day the following week.

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EITHNE SCULLY

Eithne with her medal haul

TAKING ON THE WORLD Firefighter and Advanced Paramedic Eithne Scully talks to Adam Hyland about her multi-medal-winning success at the World Police and Fire Games.

T

he World Police and Fire Games (WPFG), which were held in Chengdu, China, in August, saw Firefighter and Advanced Paramedic with D Watch Dolphin’s Barn’s Eithne Scully win an extremely impressive ten medals.

“I was blessed in that I managed to win a medal in all of my track events, which I have never done before, so I was absolutely ecstatic about that,” Eithne tells me. She won three gold medals, five silver, and two bronze across a number of individual and team competitions.

“I won gold in the 800 metres, which was secretly the one I really wanted, so I was very happy with that,” she says. “I also won two golds in the relay races, and got silver

medals in the 500 metres and 2,000 metres indoor rowing events. Then there was silver in the 5,000 metres and in the team stair race, silver in the 400 metres, and bronze in both the 1,500 metres and the 10k cross country race.”

She adds: “The DFB Sports and Social Club paid for my entry fees, which I really appreciate, because I enter a lot of events.”

For the relay or team events, because not every country would have enough members going to form a team of their own, competitors can register to be placed in a pool of athletes from which teams are made up, or can put together a team from their colleagues and friends in other countries, and this is what Eithne did.

“For the last three Games, there have been four of us who have been members of the same team,” Eithne tells me. “A friend of mine, Jackie Reid, a member of the London Metropolitan Police, and another two girls, Krista from Trinidad and Tobago, and Carla from Puerto Rico.

These are people I met through the Games, we are the same age group and we have linked up to do the relays and stair race.”

This was Eithne’s sixth time at the biennial Games, and this time she headed out to China with Bob Murphy, a retired firefighter from A Watch Dolphin’s Barn, and three colleagues from the Airport Fire Service. Her first was the 2005 competition held in Quebec, which she signed up for after seeing it advertised through the DFB Sports and Social Club.

“That first time, I decided I would like to try a couple of events,” Eithne tells me. “I entered the stair race and the half marathon, neither of which I had ever done before. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but there was a group of 20 of us, and it was a fantastic trip, so I decided after that that I would try to go to every Games.

The first games I went to, I didn’t do any track events because I thought it would be so embarrassing to be

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EITHNE SCULLY

lapped, but it’s not like that at all – there are different age groups and groups for different levels. You have elite athletes, and then people like me!”

SPIRIT OF THE GAMES The 2019 Games lasted ten days in total, starting on 10 August with “an amazing opening ceremony” and finished on 18 August, but Eithne took the opportunity to travel to Tibet, Shanghai and Beijing before returning to work. “And the medals came with me!” she says.

On previous occasions, Eithne has gone to the Games as the sole representative from the DFB, but as her relay team shows, she has made many friends over the years, so it is never an issue. This friendship and community spirit is something she loves about the event.

“For the Games in Fairfax, Virginia, in 2015, I ended up going out on my own and I was a little dubious about it,” she explains. “But when I arrived, I met three extremely tall Brazilian basketball players who invited me to come along with them. Every time you get there, everybody is there for a common draw, so as soon as you arrive, you become a part of one big family.

“With the track and cross country, there is always the same group of people, and once I get there, I meet up with them. When we are down on the track, even though for the last couple of Games I have been the only Irish person there, you feel like you belong because of your group, and they are all cheering for you, so it is an amazing atmosphere.”

It’s not just about the atmosphere though. “There is a fair amount of competition to it too,” Eithne explains.

“People say it is the taking part that counts, but it’s not,” she laughs. “You go there wanting to win something, there is a lot of work and effort involved, people train really hard, they put a lot of money into going, so people are there to do the best that they can and to try to win a medal.

Eithne’s 4x100 and 4x400 metre relay team representing Ireland, the UK, Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico

DFB and Airport Fire Service members at the opening ceremony in Chengdu

If I come out with one medal I am absolutely delighted, so I am thrilled to have come out with as many as I have.”

Success doesn’t come easily though, and in Games years, Eithne starts to step up her training gradually from February until she is ready to compete.

“You try to get the training right, which doesn’t always happen,” she says. “Before I went over this year, I didn’t feel like I was running well at all, and I changed it a bit. I spoke to a friend of mine who was a former champion 800 and 1,500 metre runner.

She told me not to worry about the distance, just work on your speed. I didn’t think it was having much of an effect, but in the end it did because I raced really well.

“I really enjoyed the track races, especially the 800 metres because it went totally to plan, couldn’t have gone better. But I also really enjoyed the relay races, that’s why I do them, because it is just fantastic to be a part

of a team, and the cheering and the craic that goes on is just great.”

INSPIRATION Not surprisingly, Eithne is a big fan of the Games, and not just because of her success. “I think the WPFG federation is a fantastic institution in terms of inspiring people,” she tells me. “The Games started in 1985 and the ethos was to promote health and fitness among the emergency services. We have had groups go before from DFB, it is a fantastic atmosphere, and you make lifelong friends. For me, my aim is to continue going, as long as I am fit and able. It gives me a target and a focus, enabling me to concentrate on my fitness and my health.”

The next games take place in Rotterdam in 2021, and Eithne expects other DFB members to take part. “There are already people talking about going, which is good. It being closer to home means it is easier for people to go,” she says. “But I will definitely be there.”

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DFB PIPE BAND

FROM WITHIN THE CIRCLE

An impressive sight

The DFB Pipe Band has played at a wide range of events and occasions in what has been a busy few months, writes Mark Toner.

Y

ou would think that after a busy year to date, the band would be taking its foot off the gas and sliding to halt.

Not so! The tail end of the summer and the autumn months saw the band as busy as ever, with a large number of high-profile engagements, some of which would be the envy of many professional outfits, let alone a completely voluntary organisation!

The summer/autumn issue brought you accounts of our recent trip to Belgium, and the feelgood factor from this trip carried over into our numerous performances and events since. The main summer engagement was the now annual FESSEF parade and emergency services day celebrations.

This year, the band again took pride of place to lead the DFB and greater fire service contingents in the parade. On reaching Dublin Castle, we were joined by our friends from the Irish Prison Service Pipe Band and the National Ambulance Service Pipe Band for our “usual” ad hoc performance for the crowds.

I wasn’t going to mention it, but as we’re on the topic of FESSEF, yes we

did appear on the Late Late Show! As part of the official emergency services day celebrations, we were asked along with our colleagues from the bands of An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service, the National Ambulance Service and the IUNVA to take part in the opening of the show. This was another first for the band, but being no strangers to the limelight and the cameras, having appeared in Bollywood blockbusters and played the point depot with our auld pal André, we gladly did our best.

A great experience for the band, if a little surreal at times.

Showbiz is all well and good, but we’ll take the pride and espirit de corps that comes with leading a new DFB recurit class onto the drill yard and being part of their passout parade over hot studio lights any day of the week. In September, we had the honour of being part of this special occasion for DFB Recruit class 1/2019. No instrument can stir the emotions like the bagpipes and drum roll as a pipe bandband strikes up. This is a feeling that I remember from my own passout, and that feeling is palpable at each recruit passout.

We take this opportunity to welcome recruit class 1/2019, and wish them a long and rewarding career. Go n-éirí an t-ádh libh!

The recruit pass out led to another first for the band, as it was here the Lord Mayor extended an official invite to perform and lead the successful Dublin Senior mens and ladies GAA teams into the Mansion house for their homecoming parades. We couldn’t possibly have refused!

The band also took part in a ceremony in the civic centre in

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DFB PIPE BAND

Playing the national anthem at the 1916 ceremony outside the OBI

As guests on the Late Late Show

Meeting legends at the Dublin GAA triumphant homecoming

With Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe at the Mansion House

Ballyfermot for the dedication of a new memorial park for members of the community who had served and still serve in the emergency services and the Defence Forces. A large number of serving members and veterans attended as the band played to welcome guests, play Amhrán na bhFiann, and provide slow airs in remembrance of all who served their community.

In more informal and light-hearted events, the band enjoyed performing at the annual Culture Night festivities in City Hall, and also for the families

of our recruits at the CISM family information evening. These events give us a chance to play some uptempo tunes we may not normally play at more formal events, and even the drummers crack a smile every now and then!

One of our last major events of the year was to play at the 1916 Fire Service medal presentation held in the OBI. The band played throughout the parade and inspection and presentation of the medal to members of the brigade who were serving in the 2016 commemorative year.

We have also had cause to play at some sombre and sad occasions too.

The funerals of two stalwarts of DFB, and keen supporters of the band and the traditions we seek to uphold, brought moments of reflection tinged with sadness for many band members who both knew and served with F/F Gerry Sweeney and S/O Adrian O’Grady. While we never take joy in performing at any funeral, we are nevertheless happy and honoured to take part as a show of support, solidarity and appreciation to the families, friends, watch members and colleagues of two fine examples of DFB firefighters. Suaimhneas síoraí ar a hanam.

Next year will see an equally busy schedule for the band, and we hope to meet all requests to participate in events. You may notice a number of new faces in band uniform next year as we have a number of learners almost ready to be let loose on the public: a positive growth for the band which couldn’t survive without new volunteers coming through the ranks, and certainly couldn’t survive without you, our members and supporters. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.

Not everyone has what it takes to be a member of the band: the hours of practice, the slagging for wearing a skirt, the foreign trips, the post-gig libation, the stardom, the drummers’ bad jokes – it’s not for everyone! But if you think you have what it takes, why not come along to the OBI any Monday night from 1930hrs and earn the right to wear the band’s crest on your shoulder. Beginners are very welcome, and don’t worry, musical ability is not necessary - you’ll be thought and provided with eveything you need. Our door is never closed, so if you are a previous member and find yourself with a little more time than before, we’ll be glad to have you back.

The band can be reached at any time through any band member or by email at dfbpbsec@gmail.com or via any of our social media pages.

‘Tis your band!

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BOXING

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT T

A charity boxing match between the DFB and An Garda Síochána has raised more than €60,000.

he Hogan Suite in Croke Park saw members of the DFB take on their counterparts in An Garda Síochána in a charity boxing match on 20 September, with all proceeds going to Temple Street Children’s Hospital and ARC Cancer Support.

Donations are still coming in, but to date, the total raised by the white collar boxing event has reached over €60,000 and counting.

Hundreds of spectators packed the venue, with comedian Karl Spain acting as compere on the night, joined by legends Ken Egan and Michael Carruth, who helped to polish up the competitors’ skills both in training and on the night.

The event was organised by DFB FF/Ps John McCrory and Tom McGrattan, and Garda Sergeants Vincent Campbell and Fergal McDonagh, and while the majority of the Garda team came from Dublin North Central – Store Street and Mountjoy – the DFB team came from across the Brigade.

“We got a great response for the event,” says John McCrory. “All of our team volunteered and put in a lot of hours, training for 12 weeks before their fight, as well as doing a lot of work in raising money, doing bucket collections and other fundraising efforts. I have to thank all members of both teams, they really worked hard to prepare, and gave their all on the night too.”

The DFB team on the night were John Regan, Laura Boylan, Shane O’Brien, Alaric Collier, Tommy Byrne, Tom McGrattan, Sean Foley, Paul Fitzgibbon, Gemma Kiernan, John

Fundraising before the event with members of An Garda Síochána

Fighters trained for 12 weeks before the event

McGrain, Graham Forde, and David Sheridan, and while Sean Leonard didn’t get to fight, his efforts in fundraising and training were equal to those of the other team members. All of them must be applauded.

The friendly rivalry between the two frontline emergency services was keenly felt throughout the night, according to John. “We won by one or two bouts,” he tells me, “but we were very evenly matched, and of course that wasn’t the main objective of the night. Some of the bouts were very

hotly contested. We all know it was a white collar event for charity, and it’s all a bit of fun, but when these people step into the ring, that’s their five minutes of fame. They may as well be in a world title fight, there’s no holding back. The bouts got more competitive as the night went on, and we had more experienced fighters towards the tail end of the event, when there was a real sense of ‘two men enter, one man leaves’ to it.”

This competitiveness even saw one fighter being knocked right out of the

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BOXING

The DFB V Garda boxing match raised a huge amount of money for charity

Pulling no punches

Preparing for battle

The competitive spirit was evident in every bout

ring. “There was no hullabaloo about it,” John says. “Like with any frontline emergency service member, it was just a case of dusting himself off and getting back in the ring.”

Despite this, John says, everything on the night was totally above board in terms of safety and how the fights were carried out. “We had the proper medical equipment on hand, with a DFB ambulance outside,” he says, “and the points scoring system and referees were of a professional standard. We had a panel of five professional-standard referees who

volunteered to take part on the night.”

He adds: “It was a very good night.

Croke Park were very generous in letting us use the venue for free, and I have to thank everybody involved who helped make the event possible, and who gave up their time free of charge, including compere Karl Spain, Ken Egan and Michael Carruth. They gave the competitors a few tips in how to box and move, so it wasn’t just a brawl, it was skilful and competitive.”

The money raised will go to two very worthwhile charities. Temple Street Children’s Hospital cares for

145,000 sick children per year, while ARC Cancer Support provides respite for both patients of and their families at sites near the Mater and St James’ hospitals.

Overall, the night was a great success, with a huge amount of money raised for the charities, and everybody who took part should be very proud of what was a remarkable sporting and fundraising achievement.

“It was a really positive night, with a lot of money raised,” John says, “and thanks to everyone who volunteered their time.”

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THE MAIN EVENT In the second part of our series, Adam Hyland returns to Class 1/2019 at the end of their training as they prepare for, and complete their passing out to become professional firefighters.

T

he OBI was a flurry of activity when I went to visit Recruit Class 1/2019 in September.

Now in the midst of their final preparations for pass out the following week, they were being put through their paces on a marching exercise in the drill yard.

“They’ll get it right though, because they have to,” Course Director A/D/O Joe Mangan tells me.

A lot has happened since I first met them at the end of July, when they had just completed basic training and moved on to specialist courses.

Another gruelling couple of months later, they were almost ready to graduate as professional firefighters, an achievement that comes after months of solid effort and hard work.

Under the guidance of Brigade Training Officer Brendan Carroll and Assistant Brigade Training Officer

Frank Kiernan, Course Director A/D/O Mangan, Assistant Course Director Cormac Cahill, six syndicate officers and a large number of specialist instructors, all 36 recruits came through their specialist courses successfully.

“Each course has its own individualities, but overall, the key learning outcomes have been achieved in each course,” A/D/O Mangan tells me, “and each recruit is meeting the same standard. They all had to reach the same competencies, and they have all successfully done that.”

He adds: “As with anything, some sailed through the courses, some needed a little more work, but they all got there. That’s the instructors’ job, to push them and to help them as much as they can. The instructors put a lot of work in, coming in early to set up scenarios, etc, and putting work into

individual recruits who need it. The goal is to get them through it, and we did get them through it. Everything is achievable, once you put the work in.”

GETTING TO WORK This ethos, he says, will carry on into the job, with nine of the recruits going operational shortly after pass out, while others return to the OBI Training Centre to start their paramedic training. Those going operational will return to complete their paramedic training next year after gaining valuable experience on the frontline.

“For the lads going operational, they are going to have to build their experience, build on their training.

They are going to gain a lot of experience working as firefighters and using the training they have acquired here,” A/D/O Mangan says.

Those moving on to the paramedic course will go operational just before Christmas. “They have another long journey ahead of them, and a lot of challenges, in regards to studying and applying themselves in a more

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Recruit Class 1-19 ahead of the pass out ceremony. Scan the QR code to watch the video of the entire pass out ceremony and skills displays

academic way. A lot of the stuff they have been through at the OBI has been physical, hands on work, but on the paramedic side, there is a lot of knowledge to be learned, so it will be a different format, and a different challenge, for them.”

The recruits from the Louth and Galway Fire Service are preparing to return home and begin their careers as full-time professional firefighters.

“It’s an exciting time for them,” A/D/O Mangan tells me. “They were all retained previously, and going full-time is something they have always wanted. They now go in, do their job, and know when they have to be in work, when they have time off… No more having their dinner interrupted by the beeper going off.

I’m sure their families will be looking forward to that.”

When first meeting the recruit class, it was interesting to hear their initial impressions and to find out what aspect of training they found toughest, what they were looking forward to, and what they were anxious to get over

and done with. With these courses now completed, I ask A/D/O Mangan for his thoughts.

“For most of them, even the thoughts of doing BA was daunting, especially when they heard the war stories from the first group to do it,” he says, “but once they got into doing it, they all seemed to enjoy it, looking back. It’s tough, but every course has its own challenges. Some excel at BA, but might find the pump or SRT hard, it’s all different challenges.”

Getting through training and becoming a firefighter obviously requires discipline, but with the end so close, I wonder how that sense of focus is kept.

“Discipline is key, especially when they go operational, and they know that when they are asked to do something, they do it - that’s how the DFB operate,” A/D/O Mangan tells me. “Having said that, they know that the end is in sight now, so they are a bit more relaxed on the drill yard.

But once they are in prep mode, they switch on again and are focused.

“When they finished their specialty courses, we got them all back for basic training, hose rolling, ladders, etc, to make sure they knew it was time to switch back on. Once we were happy with their standard again, we decided they could start on pass out prep. It’s their day, a big occasion for them and their families who will be there to support them, so we are saying we will get you there, but you need to put the work in first.”

Preparing for pass out means perfecting drills to be performed on the day. “It’s just practice, practice, practice to get it all ready,” A/D/O Mangan says. “The training they have been doing all along means that they are ready to step into these exercises without any difficulty. Once we give them a role, they perform that, and have ample time to practice it. They are almost fully-qualified firefighters now, so there should be no problems for them.”

What advice would you give Class 1/2019 as they move on to the next phase of their careers? I ask.

“Never forget their training,” A/D/O Mangan says. “Remember that every day in the DFB is a learning day, every incident they go to, they are going to learn something new, and they need to learn from the experience of other firefighters. As much as we can teach them in the Training Centre, nothing will compare to the experience when they go operational, and that is what they have to learn, to build on that experience.

“They are going to have to deal with certain experiences, and that’s where senior firefighters will look after them. But also enjoy it. You should be looking forward to going into work every day, and I think everyone in the DFB does. Just enjoy it. I would like to personally wish them all the best in their careers, to have a happy and safe career.”

THE RECRUITS Darren Donnelly had completed the RTC course and had just started the BA course when I first spoke to him in

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July. For him, each course was tough but ultimately rewarding. “BA was the hardest,” he says, “but one of the more enjoyable ones. It was great to be getting involved in what we would actually be doing a lot. Then when we got to the SRT course, that was great.

We went to Lara and then Wren’s Nest in Lucan, great fun, a great course. It was good to be getting into the water because I love swimming. That was the best course for me, but as regards best memories, well there were a couple of moments in the BA course. But it was great all round.”

He is looking forward to pass out.

“To pass out will mean the world to me. It’s been a long process since I applied for the job, that was three years ago. To say I am nearly finished now is unreal.”

After that, it’s a return to the OBI. “It’s pass out next week, and then straight into paramedic training the following week. There’s a lot to learn, so I will be hitting the books, working hard. That will be three months, so I will finish just in time to go operational

by Christmas.”

“Right now, we are just flapping to get the pass out parade prep done, so the minds are all focused on that,” Keith Russell tells me. “We are getting there. There’s a lot to do for each individual group. The foot drill is going… well, it’s going. We just need to stay tuned in. The displays are in some regards easier because we are in a collective group and you can give each other a hand and help if they are doing something wrong, but with the foot drill, every individual needs to stay tuned in. By pass out it will be polished.

“My family will be coming up for the pass out. It’s something very special for the families, but it also lets them see the results of the hard work we have done. They can now say: ‘Oh that’s what you were at for the last 14 weeks.’

“It will be nice for the family to see the Training Centre too, because up to now I have been talking about the OBI, and they have said to me I may as well be talking to the man in the

The skills displays were tough work on a hot day

moon.” He continues: “To pass out will be great, to get through the DFB training and start the job. There’s a lot of work in it, you can’t take your foot off the pedal, some of it a challenge, some of it enjoyable.”

Keith had completed the EFR and pump courses, and had just started RTC when we first spoke. He too found the remaining courses tough but rewarding.

“I think each of the specials had their own challenges,” he tells me. “I would have had BA experience from my retained job (in Navan), but there was always something new to learn, and a new challenge for everybody.

None of us thought we were out for a walk in the park. It was a matter of getting through them.

“For me, the EFR was great. The paramedic instructors we had were excellent and it was really good to gain the experience from them, and they encouraged us to get stuck in.”

He recollects on some elements of each course. “The sewer crawl was interesting, I have to say. It was cold and… interesting. Something I had never experienced before, it was tough, but it was enjoyable too.

The compartment fire training, I thought how it was done was brilliant, the instructors were great. And the positive pressure ventilation was something I had only read about, but to be hands on and see the workings

of it was brilliant, and I am looking forward to using it in the job.

“There’s been ups and downs, but I enjoyed most of it. BA and RTC stood out for me. There was so much to learn. Hazmat was enjoyable too. How the instructors did it made it really good. It was tough and physical, but there wasn’t one course I absolutely hated. It was all about staying focused and getting through it.”

Keith is one of the nine recruits going operational. “I am a little bit wary that I am going into the job without the paramedic training done yet,” he admits, “so I think I’ll be bringing in the box of biscuits to apologise. But I am looking forward to actually going operational.

“I am looking forward to working hands on with experienced firefighters and paramedics in real situations, and it’s an opportunity for me to learn and prepare me well for when I come back in to do the paramedic training. It’s been a long trek, but it’s been a great experience, and a good few friendships have been made along the way.”

Ross Bell had also completed the pump and EFR courses and had started on RTC when we first met. He is returning to Carlingford to take up a position as a full-time firefighter with Louth Fire Service after working as a retained firefighter for many years, and found the rest of training to be invaluable.

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“It was brilliant,” he tells me. “We were pretty flat out with the specialty courses – SRT, two weeks RTC and three weeks of BA back to back, so we were flat to the mat. It was very good to get through the BA because there was no time for contemplation, you know when you get into work that you will be thrown in the deep end. The SRT was great too – it was full-on, but it is important to be able to know what you might be faced with.”

He too is in full on pass out prep mode when we speak. “Apart from a lot of polishing of the shoes, it’s grand – everybody is looking forward to it,” he tells me. “The wife and children will be coming up, and that is great, because they will get to see what I have been doing for the last three months.

I don’t think people, even your family, know exactly what it is we are doing.

This will give them an idea, after the late nights coming home tired, this shows them what we have been up to. It was hard to come home late, very tired, getting your dinner at 9pm, but at least now we can show that all the hard work was worth it. It’s three months flat out, but overall it gets you ready for the job.”

For him, turning professional will bring positive changes to his family life. “Going full-time will bring some normality to life,” he says. “Back home, I was five days a week, 24 hours a day on call, restricted in where you

could live because you need to be within minutes of the station, and I was doing that for 12 years. Now as a fulltime firefighter, it will be a nice change to be able to know what my week is like. There is more of a structure to it, and then to family life as a result.”

Michael Kiernan tells me that pass out prep is hectic. “There’s a lot going on but everybody is very clear in what they have to do now. Everybody is just hoping we can get it all together for when we have to do it in front of the families.”

For him, passing out will bring a great sense of pride. “This will be the toughest thing I have ever done, but also the thing I will get the most satisfaction out of when we pass out. I am looking forward to the day, and to sharing it with my family.”

Michael had just completed the BA course when we first spoke, and looks back on it and other courses as difficult but enjoyable. “The toughest part of the training was BA, without a doubt, both physically and mentally.

The course I enjoyed the most was the RTC course, from a personal point of view. I don’t know why I enjoyed the RTC so much, I just found myself enjoying being on the tools, getting hands on. Plus, from my time in the Control Room, I saw that the RTC call outs are the most common ones the DFB get, they are day in, day out.

So, I found it interesting to see what is

Silver axe winner Derek Baitson with Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe

involved. I also enjoyed learning about the different parts of the car and the tools, it was all new to me, but I felt the courses, especially the RTC course, really enhanced my practical skills.

“It has been a very tough summer,” he adds. “I learned a lot of things. I enjoyed it in the main, and I would have to say I am glad it’s over, but in the positive sense, it’s a great sense of achievement and satisfaction. For me, it’s on to the paramedic course now, which will be another challenge, so there’s no rest for the wicked. After that, it’s into the job itself, just before Christmas, so it will be a busy end to the year. But it is what it is, it’s always busy!”

Domhnall Mac Donnacha is returning to Galway to become a fulltime firefighter in the city after pass out, having been retained for several years. “We finish on the Friday and the following Monday I will be doing the aerial platform course for a week before I start the following week on Blue Watch, so there isn’t much of a break,” he tells me.

Pass out prep is going well for him. “It’s good. Myself and two other chippies on the course threw a little house together for the pass out demonstrations, and it’s holding up nicely,” he says. “The marching has to be done too. We were getting a drilling over that, but we will get there. We march almost every day, so we don’t have the excuse. We have been doing it for so long that we know we can pull it together, but at first maybe we are thinking about passing out, rather than where our feet are.

“Looking back over it, I know we will never have this time together as a group again. Even though it has been very tough, there has been a bond within the training, so I am taking the time in this last week to enjoy being around my class mates, because we won’t get all 36 of us together again.”

As with Ross Bell, becoming a fulltime firefighter will be what he calls “a life-changer”.

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Recruit Class 1-19

and to actually have a better standard of life where I can enjoy my four days off and not have to worry about missing a call, so it’s a huge change.

You can’t look away from the stability either. I love the job, and can’t see myself anywhere else. I really enjoy it.

It means a lot for me to be going into the job.”

His experiences in training were all positive, he says. “It’s a lot of hard work, but the DFB made it easy for me, coming up from Galway. The course was great, I really enjoyed it, all the instructors and D/Os were second to none, they were very obliging. The BA was very good, the Swiftwater was great too – it was nice to get out of the OBI for a day – not that there is anything wrong with the OBI but it was a break, a change of scenery.

The instructors were very good, and I enjoyed the water in Lara. The Liffey swim wasn’t as enjoyable, but hopefully I won’t have to get into it again, it will be the Corrib from now on!”

PASS OUT And so, it was on to the day itself, Wednesday, 18 September, when in glorious sunshine the 36 recruits passed out in front of their family, friends, instructors, DFB Officers and dignitaries, including Dublin Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe, Galway Mayor Mike Cubbard, and Louth Mayor Fran Treanor. Also there to witness their firefighters graduate were A/C/F/O of Galway Fire Service Michelle Hanly,

Louth Fire Service CFO Eamon Woulfe, and representatives of the Northern Ireland Fire Service.

Following a performance by the DB Pipe Band, the recruits marched on to the drill yard before the Lord Mayor gave his address.

“It’s a great honour for me to be here as Lord Mayor of Dublin on what is a fantastic family day,” Mr McAuliffe told the crowd. “The firefighters of Class 1/2019, you and your families will never forget today, you will never forget the achievement that this event underlines. Today is the highlight of three months of hard work for each and every one of you.

“I’m very proud to welcome the new recruits into the Dublin Fire Brigade and I wish you all the very best in your future careers. You now have a proud position to uphold, and I have no doubt that following your training, you will be willing and able to do that.

Congratulations to each and every one of you.”

Later in the day, I ask the Lord Mayor about his first experience of a DFB pass out. “There’s a huge tradition within the DFB, and a huge tradition with Dublin City Council.

My Aide de Camp stands by me, and Lord Mayors will always stand by the Fire Brigade,” he tells me. “The DFB defend the city, and I will always encourage the City Council to defend the DFB. There are those who believe our fire service is not the future, but it absolutely is the future, and we need to

make sure that’s the way it stays.”

A/C/F/O Richard Hedderman also addressed the crowd on behalf of Brigade Training Officer Brendan Carroll. “It is a very big day for Class 1 2019. Sixteen weeks ago, these men arrived here, and now they are ready to pass out as fully-trained firefighters.

I would like to thank Training Officer Brendan Carroll, Assistant Training Officer Frank Kiernan, and D/Os Mangan and Cahill, who trained these recruits to the highest standard.

“Every recruit here today will be following in the footsteps of many men and women who have gone before them, and we expect very high standards. When called upon, the support they need will be there for them. All that’s left is to wish every one of you well in the future and within your careers in the DFB, and I have no doubt you will continue to deliver the highest standard to the people of Dublin.”

Following an inspection of the recruits by the three Mayors present and the Officers from Louth and Galway, it was time for the recruits to demonstrate their skills under the blazing sun, with compere D/O Hughy O’Leary as always threading the storyline together as special guests the Bumbleance Bee and Irish Blood Tranfusion Service mascot Blood Drop were rescued from a series of emergency situations.

Both were present on the day for the presentation of a cheque of €6,583, made possible by fundraising efforts by the recruits a few weeks previously.

The foot drill demo was followed by a ladder rescue, RTC, Hazmat and Fire/EMS demo, before it was time to present pass out scrolls to the recruits, and the Silver Axe award for Best Recruit, which went to Derek Baitson.

CELEBRATION With the formalities over and done with, it was time for Class 1/2019 t to celebrate with each other and their families as they merged onto the drill yard amidst cheers and horns. Each of

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Class 1/2019:

RFF Keith Russell

RFF Darren Donnelly

RFF Michael Kiernan

Graham O’Rourke; David Maguire; Keith Russell; Michael Kiernan; William Stafford; Graham Kelly; Andrew McGowan; Cillian Timmons; Ross Bell (Louth Fire & Rescue); Derek Baitson; Robert Charles; Karl Dorney; Shaun Maher; Simon Lawlor; Rob Corcoran; Daniel Butler; Glenn Sloan; Brendan McKeever (Louth Fire & Rescue); Darren Donnelly; Jake McLoughlin; Kevin Kehoe; Brian Stewart; Peter Stanley; Eugene Brannigan (Louth Fire & Rescue); Martin Hunt; Troy Tilley; Francis Larkin; David Gethings; Domhnall McDonnacha (Galway Fire & Rescue); Liam Redmond; Sean O’Neill; Nigel Kiernan; Padraig O’Shaughnessy; Gavin Quinn; David Snowe; Fearghal Murphy

Instructors:

NEW RECRUITS

the recruits I spoke to were delighted with how the day went.

In the middle of the celebrations, Keith Russell tells me: “It’s a great feeling. Looking back, it was October 2015 when I was accepted, it is the best part of four years of work. So, to pass out is fantastic. The weather is great, the sun is shining, everyone is flying, it’s just great!”

Domhnall Mac Donnacha says: “I am happy it’s all done now. Time to celebrate! I’m really happy and can’t wait to get started in Galway now.”

He was greeted by Galway Fire Service A/C/F/O Michelle Hanly, who said: “We are thrilled for him.

It’s fantastic for him, and fantastic for us, and I can’t wait to see him up and running in the city. He will fit in well, amongst old colleagues, so it’s just positive for everybody. I’m delighted for him.”

“Today was unreal,” Ross Bell tells me. “It’s a very good feeling to have finished, great to get through this course and return to Louth to work as a full-time firefighter.”

Michael Kiernan tells me: “It was a great day, it all went very well, and it’s a great day for my family as well, we are all very proud. I’m glad it’s over in one way, it was a tough three months, but it was a great experience, and very enjoyable. Today was brilliant!”

“I’m absolutely delighted, over the moon,” Darren Donnelly says.

“Everything just went perfectly, and I couldn’t have asked for a better day.

The sun was out, so that made it even better. A really great day!”

The celebrations would continue for each member of Class 1/2019, but before long they will be back to work. Whether that is on operations in Dublin, Louth or Galway, or the paramedic course at the Training Centre, I wish them many congratulations and the very best of luck.

Many thanks must go to A/D/O Joe Mangan and the recruits who took time out from an extremely busy schedule to talk to me.

RFF Domhnall Mac Donnacha, Galway

RFF Ross Bell, Louth

Brigade Training Officer Brendan Carroll; Assistant Brigade Training Officer Frank Kiernan; Course Director A/D/O Joe Mangan; Assistant Course Director A/D/O Cormac Cahill; A/S/O Nicholas Farrell; A/S/O James Doyle; A/S/O Paul Daffy; A/S/O Niall Grant; A/S/O Keith Markey; A/S/O Eugene Maher

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

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1916 MEDALS

DFB members reflect on the Easter Rising and the history of the Brigade in Dublin

The commemorative medals

EASTER 1916 COMMEMORATION The Easter 1916 Commemorative Medal was issued to Dublin Fire Brigade members for the first time at a ceremony at the Training Centre on 30 October.

T

he commemorative medal was open to all serving members of the DFB who also served during 2016 on the 100-year anniversary of the Easter Rising, and marks their contribution to the 1916 Centenary events as well as the overall contribution of the fire service to the people and the history of Ireland.

The event included a reading of the Proclamation by FF/P Stephen Breen, a descendant of Dan Breen, who fought in the War of Independence and later became a TD, a flag raising ceremony, and a performance from the DFB Pipe Band.

While national services such as the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána were given commemorative medals during the Centenary

celebrations, the DFB and other fire services across the country were not formally recognised until this event.

Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Damien English TD, presented the 1916 medals on behalf of Dáil Éireann, and spoke about the historical links the DFB has with the history of Dublin and Ireland.

He thanked the DFB for their professionalism and their contribution to the 1916 commemorations, and for their service to the city.

CFO Dennis Keeley also spoke about the links the DFB have with the history of Dublin.

“The Rising and the whole period covered by the decade of Centenary events resonates deeply through the history of the Dublin Fire Brigade,”

he said. “Our firefighters were on the streets of Dublin dealing with events caused by the 1913 Lockout, and ten years later they were dealing with events triggered by the Civil War. “On 24 April, 1916, our control room heard the first news of the Rising. Ambulances were immediately dispatched to deal with casualties and fire engines dispatched to deal with fires in the Magazine Fort and the O’Connell Street area. Throughout that week, the Dublin Fire Brigade worked tirelessly within the limits of Marshall Law to assist those who needed our services, and immediately after the ceasefire made available all of our resources to put out the fires that threatened to destroy central Dublin.

“At that time, the DFB had 50 men, and in fact the Brigade was short-staffed, as one member, Joseph Connolly, was also a member of the Irish Citizen Army, and reported to his unit throughout the week.

Connolly later returned to the Brigade and rose to the rank of Chief Officer. I am sure that the ghosts of my predecessors would be looking down proudly on us today, the men and women of the DFB.” CFO Keeley went on to mention that seven DFB members in all were 1916 veterans, and that the medals being awarded were a fitting recognition of them and the Brigade.

“We remember our history and cherish the legacy left for us by those who went before us,” he said. “This medal is a welcome recognition of our role in the events surrounding the Centenary celebration.”

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STATION PROFILE

STATION PROFILE A WATCH DOLPHIN’S BARN

Liam Redmond, Dermot Murray, Sub Officer Nicky Farrell, Kevin Maher, Paul Donnelly, Don Kinsella, S/O Ken Monaghan, D/O John Rogers, Padraig McConnell, Lorcan Potts, Mick O’Connor, Chris O’Reilly, Mick Redmond, Conor Mackey and Anthony Duffy, who were on a call when the group gathered for a photo

THE CREW OF A WATCH DOLPHIN’S BARN GRAB SOME TIME BETWEEN CALL OUTS TO TALK TO ADAM HYLAND ABOUT LIFE AT THEIR STATION.

T

o say that the crew of A Watch in Dolphin’s Barn were busy when I went to meet them would be an understatement, and it was only by good fortune that I arrived just as D/O John Rogers returned from a call out.

“This is a very busy station,” he emphasises, “so there isn’t much time to dwell on anything because we are all in and out all the time. But the entire crew are more than happy to be so busy.”

It’s easy to believe, with the alarm going off frequently during my visit, but D/O Rogers finds some time to talk about life at one of the oldest fire stations in the city.

He has been D/O here since 2015, having come from Donnybrook where he was stationed since 2009.

The station has two fire engines, an emergency tender, an ambulance and a

D/O’s vehicle with command unit, with 15 crew plus himself, an S/O and two Sub Officers, working with 13 members every day and 12 at night.

“We have a good mix here,” he tells me. “A lot of very good senior personnel here, and they give the younger ones the heads up on how things work best. If the younger crew members need help with anything, they go to the senior members, and there is always a very helpful atmosphere.”

CHALLENGES Working well together is necessary, as the crew covers a very large area stretching to Lucan, Rathcoole and towards Blessington.

“There are a lot of industrial sites around here, as well as three major hospitals nearby. These bring their own challenges. The industrial sites could have chemicals or can present HazMat scenarios. The readiness always has to

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STATION PROFILE

Returning from another call out

be there. We can’t always know what is in some buildings until we get there.

We do have pre-fire planning, but going to those sites can present unforeseen challenges that we need to be ready for.

“With the emergency tender here, we have to serve the entire southside of the city,” D/O Rogers adds. “We can be sent anywhere, and they can be very busy, especially around the M50 motorway and South Circular Road.

“Having said that, our location is good for access, and the canal nearby means we can practice swift water rescue drills, and have an SRT Instructor in Don Kinsella.”

FITNESS Another alarm goes off, with a crew dispatched, and S/O Monaghan runs past me in the yard saying “I told you we were busy”, before D/O Rogers takes me to the newly-renovated gym.

“It is used quite a lot. There’s a lot of interest in fitness among the crew,” he says.

When the weather is good, the crew can also avail of the handball alley in the yard. “There’s always a slagging match, but it’s good natured and always a bit of fun,” he says.

UNIQUE ASPECTS D/O Rogers and S/O Monaghan both point out that Dolphin’s Barn is the

Father and son Mick and Liam Redmond

only station in Dublin without a fireman’s pole, because they are a single-storey building. Later in the mess, a few crew members get to talking about this, with thoughts turning towards what was here before.

There are a few theories, before conversation returns to banter.

As we walk through the station, D/O Rogers shows me the memorabilia cabinet full of articles and artefacts, with a screen showing a slideshow of call outs and past members, before we come to the garden. Built in memory of FF Brian Dempsey, who passed away in 2003, a memorial axe was more recently placed there to commemorate Ian “Frodo” McCormack from B Watch.

Another wall is adorned with pictures of former colleagues, including D/O Terry Potts, whose son Lorcan is on A Watch. Speaking about carrying on family connections, D/O Rogers tells me that his own son has been in the DFB since 2016. Many of the crew have family members in the Brigade.

ENJOYING LIFE “I love coming to work,” D/O Rogers tells, “and I love being kept busy. We also have a very good crew. Whether they are going to a fire or an RTC, they work hard. You need that. They

are all very good firefighters, and very good people.”

The mix of seniority and youth is evident when I meet the crew in the mess, as is the high level of joviality.

Though many of them have served for more than 20 years, it is noticeable that new recruit Liam Redmond, who started two months ago as one of the nine members of Class 1/2019 who went operational after pass out, fits in as one of the team, giving as good as he gets. Jokes fly about his father being Driving Instructor Mick Redmond, which is ramped up when Mick shows up with the new command unit vehicle.

As crews return from call outs, other members of A Watch file in, including Conor Mackey, Dermot Murray, Sub Officer Nicky Farrell, Kevin Maher, Paul Donnelly, Don Kinsella, Padraig McConnell, Lorcan Potts, Mick O’Connor, Chris O’Reilly, Anthony Duffy and Mick Redmond, each with a joke to tell about their colleagues.

Over a quick tea break, they continue to swap quickfire jokes about each other - being so busy means it has to be quickfire - because there isn’t much time, as another alarm goes off and the crew get up to leave once more.

More than happy to be so busy.

FIRECALL WINTER

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Kildare Fire Service Central Fire Station, Newbridge, Co. Kildare Tel: 045 454 800 Email: cfo@kildarecoco.ie

www.kildare.ie/countycouncil/fireservices Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/kildarefireservice

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06/12/2019 16:23

SOCIAL NIGHTS

SOCIAL NETWORK The DFBSSC Nights Out are great fun, and a great chance to catch up with colleagues old and new, writes Paul McCann.

T

he Thursday social nights ran again during October, over 5 nights, starting on the 3rd in the Church on Mary Street.

These nights are funded from the Social Club purse, and are a great way for Social Club Members, both serving Firefighters and Retirees, to catch up and socialise in a central venue.

Each Watch was assigned their own Thursday night, and more than 200 members turned out over the five nights, including Garage staff and staff from the OBI. The food was excellent as always, and was provided by The Church free of charge - a very generous gesture on their part, and a great show of support for the Dublin Fire Brigade.

The nights are also a great introduction to the newer recruits, helping them to get acquainted

with the ‘Elder Lemons’ of the job, and listen to all the stories, true or embellished/fact or fiction, from across the stations. There was a great atmosphere each night, with live music and plenty of entertainment, banter and laughs.

The nights also allow the retired members stay in the loop, share their experiences and retain the link with their old workmates and station.

We know it can be hard for firefighters to adjust to life “off the job”, and maintaining this connection is a great way of helping them adjust and remain part of the DFB family.

The Committee hope to see the numbers increase in the New Year, and to increase the number of social events. Any suggestions or comments are welcome, and all DFB personnel are free to contact any of the committee.

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INTERNATIONAL PROFILE

GOTHENBURG AND MÖLNLYCKE, Johan Fors

Andrè Meurk with one of the fire engines at Mölnlycke

Close ties have been made between the DFB and members of the greater Gothenburg fire service, writes Adam Hyland.

T

he relationship between Dublin Fire Brigade and the Gothenburg fire service was formed when DFB FF/P Chris Fynes talked to some friends in Sweden’s second biggest city about joining their ranks while on career break a couple of years ago.

“A couple of my colleagues were friends with Chris in Dublin, who was interested in becoming a firefighter in Gothenburg,” Johan Fors, Head of the Part-time Fire Service in Gothenburg, tells me. ”After doing our tests, he started a trial job at Mölnlycke fire station, which is a part-time station on the outskirts of the city. This went really well, but he had to move back to Dublin eventually.”

The main station in central Gothenburg, Acting Chief Fire Officer Per Nyqvist, tells me, has two fire engines for rescue and traffic accidents, water tenders, a high rescue ladder unit, a command unit and a diver unit, meaning it is equipped to face any eventuality brought about in a congested city surrounded by water and forest.

THE CITY A trip to Dublin, particularly around St Patrick’s Day, has been mooted, and may become a reality in 2020. ”We have had the idea of visiting Dublin Fire Brigade for some time, but for various reasons this trip did not come off, but we still have a desire to go over for a study visit,” Johan says.

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden and the fifth largest in the Nordic countries, with the population of the greater metropolitan area standing at around 1million, and its firefighters face many of the same challenges as DFB members.

The city has 17 fire stations in all – 11 full-time comprising 500 firefighters, and six part-time - supported by a number of volunteer stations.

“Our main responsibility is covering six municipalities – Gothenburg city itself and the five smaller municipalities around it,” Per tells me. ”We also have cooperation with the other fire brigades around Sweden, so we have a unified command structure for these 17 municipalities.”

The biggest challenge, Per says, is: “Just being a firefighter in a bigger city, with all the complexity of traffic accidents, high rise buildings, chemical responses, tunnels, and a lot of vehicle arson. As the largest port in Scandinavia, Gothenburg is the transportation hub for Sweden and northern Scandinavia, so we have a lot of shipping, a lot of cargo coming in and going out by rail and motorways, and that is also one of the big challenges.”

WINTER 44 FIRECALL

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03/12/2019 13:21

INTERNATIONAL PROFILE

Vehicle arson has increased over the years in Gothenburg

Per Nyqvist

Call outs are not restricted to the city though. “In the same day you can be dealing with incidents in the city, but also ending up out in the countryside helping the smaller fire brigades, and with a lot of forest there are also forest fires to contend with. So, firefighters here need to be able to handle the full spectrum of incidents.

“The archipelago is also a challenge,” he adds. “The islands are all occupied year-round and the bigger ones have volunteer fire brigades, but we go out to them by boat or helicopter – whatever way we can, to help them out.”

Just as the Stardust disaster brought about changes in the Dublin Fire Brigade, a similar incident in Gothenburg forced their fire service to adapt and improve. An arson attack at a teenage disco on Hisingen Island in 1998 resulted in 63 deaths and 200 people injured.

“A lot of work has been done since then, mostly in fire prevention with a

focus on safety in public buildings,” Per says. “In the operative field, we have strengthened the overall command structure, focusing on an adaptive way to handle any action and any type of incident we face.

“That accident, there was really nothing wrong with the building, there were just too many people, so it was more of an organisational problem. We had to make changes to our command structure to be able to respond correctly to that type of major incident.”

For Per, being a firefighter in a city such as Gothenburg is the perfect job.

“I like working for a larger organisation, because it always presents new opportunities and challenges,” he tells me. “Also, most firefighters feel a sense of pride in being able to help when needed, and doing it with high quality.”

MÖLNLYCKE Andrè Meurk is one of 14 Reserve Firefighters in Mölnlycke, where Chris Fynes worked for two years. As a good friend of Chris, he is considering a visit to Dublin soon.

“I joined when I was 18,” he says. “My father wanted me to become a firefighter and got me called up. One day, he said to me that I had to go and do some tests, so I went and did them, and here I am. So, it worked out well!”

The town of 18,000 people lies about 10km from Gothenburg, and Andrè has to serve at least 168 hours per month in

his role as a reserve firefighter, but he is able to combine it with his job in a special optics company.

“My job is 500 metres from the station, so for me it is perfect,” he says. “You have a beeper on you so that when a call comes in you respond and go to the station, but for me the balance works really well. When you don’t have any calls, I can work or be at home, so I am not at the station all the time.

“I am home a lot and have a basic firefighter salary, but obviously if a lot of calls come in there is more work and more hours, and on the other hand I can be there for a week and nothing happens, so I can do whatever I want, as long as I am within five minutes of the station. I can be at my other job, I can be relaxing at home, or sleeping. Of course, if you are called out a lot for six or seven days in the week, maybe your partner won’t be so happy, but I am really enjoying it right now.”

Andrè and the other reserves still need to be able to respond to any call out. “We do the same amount of training as the full-time firefighters,” he says. “We have to carry out different exercises and drills to make sure we are prepared for any incident. So, it is just like working fulltime at a regular station, except that we can be at work and at home at the same time. We do exactly the same job as the full-time firefighters in Gothenburg, and there is no sense of anybody doing more than anybody else.”

One challenge is that the area is surrounded by forests and lakes. “A lot of people live far into the woods, so it can be difficult to get to them, especially when you have to go around or across lakes,” he says. “On the other hand, having so many lakes is a very good thing, because it means we always have a great supply of fresh water if we have a forest fire. We can always find water!”

The best part of the job, for Andrè, is that he can help people. “It is all about helping society,” he tells me, “to know that you have something meaningful to do, and to contribute. It is something to be proud of.

“In the future I will become a full-time firefighter,” he adds, “but not right now. I have a pretty good life right now.”

FIRECALL WINTER

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03/12/2019 09:08

DFB HISTORY

THE BALLYFERMOT TRIBUTE GARDEN DFB historian Las Fallon reports on the opening of a tribute garden to members of the emergency services in Ballyfermot.

O

n 28 September Dublin Fire Brigade members of all ranks, serving and retired, were represented at the unveiling of a new Tribute Garden at the Ballyfermot Civic Centre.

The Tribute garden with its memorial stone, is to remember and celebrate all from the Ballyfermot community who serve and have served in the emergency services.

The original idea for the garden came from Pam O`Reilly, a Ballyfermot resident and long-time community activist with deep family connections to the Defence Forces.

Pam’s idea was to celebrate the large numbers of men and women from the Ballyfermot community who have served in the emergency services over the years since the area was first developed as a housing scheme to help deal with the massive housing problems in Dublin in the 1950s.

Ballyfermot, like Cabra, Crumlin and other Dublin Corporation estates built from the 1930s onwards, was originally part of the solution provided by central government to deal with both the housing shortage and the horrific social conditions of the Dublin slums. Vast swathes of public housing were built in those years, but often those sent to live there had little in the way of social facilities, including shops.

Over the years, Ballyfermot

The memorial garden committee

The memorial garden

developed a strong sense of community and organised itself through bodies such as the Ballyfermot Community Association, to seek facilities and provide the area with a voice in local government and an input into the development of the area.

People like Pam O`Reilly were at the forefront of those efforts, and Pam is still heavily involved in bettering her community for all who live there.

Having had the original idea, she gathered a team of people around

The memorial

her and decided that nine services should be represented on the stone by the use of their logo in the overall design. The services chosen were the Defence Forces (Army, Naval Service and Air Corps), Dublin Fire Brigade, Irish Coast Guard, Garda SĂ­ochĂĄna, National Ambulance Service, Civil Defence and the RNLI. A committee was formed, and I was invited to take part as a former firefighter, former FCA member, and someone born and bred in

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DFB HISTORY

Ballyfermot. I attended the early meetings and was hugely impressed with the work rate and dedication of those on the committee. As requested, I reported back to the DFB on the project and the Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley came on board from the start. He appointed Third Officer Paul O`Reilly, another Ballyfermot man, to represent the DFB on the committee. The committee itself included representatives from all of the organisations involved, some retired and some still serving, and had an impressive level of expertise in getting projects of all sizes over the line – on time and inside budget.

Pam and committee secretary, Melissa Egan, kept us all focused and working to a common goal of seeing the stone and memorial garden in place, and formally opened at the end of September.

The garden was formally opened

by Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe on 28 September. The DFB were represented in numbers, with the Chief Fire Officer present, as well as other senior officers, the DFB Pipe Band, the Lord Mayor’s ADC and sword and mace carriers. A group of retired members were present, as were serving members with a display of DFB equipment. The other groups involved were also represented, and the ceremonial aspects of the day were choreographed by retired Regimental Sergeant Major Mick Dillon, a man who played a huge part in the Defence Forces contribution to the 1916 centenary events.

As part of a very moving ceremony, brilliantly MCd by Steve Rynn (Defence Forces, retd.) I had the great honour of saying a few words to put the ceremony in context and to remember those who went before us, and to celebrate and thank those still serving.

The Lord Mayor’s speech was followed a wreath laying ceremony where the DFB wreath was laid by the CFO. One minute of silence was followed by a piper’s lament played

Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe with his Aide de Camp and DFB CFO Keeley

CFO Dennis Keeley lays a wreath at the opening of the Ballyfermot Tribute Garden honouring members of the emergency services and defence forces

Las with some fellow Ballyfermot residents

Ballyfermot representatives Ray Hurley, Jim Fitzpatrick, Willy Woodhouse, Viv O`Hanlon, and Jimmy Dowling

brilliantly as always by our own Mark Toner, and the event ended with the National Anthem played by the DFB Pipes and Drums.

A reception in the Ballyfermot Civic Centre followed and provided a relaxed and enjoyable end to the day’s events.

The tribute garden was an original and brilliant idea, and will provide a focal point within the community. I can see more communities copying

Posing with the sword and mace bearers

the idea, and even on the day some who attended were leaving for home in various parts of Dublin and throughout Ireland with the idea of starting the ball rolling towards a similar tribute in their local areas.

As someone who takes pride both in the community where I grew up and in my former occupation as a firefighter with Dublin Fire Brigade, it was a wonderful day and a wonderful gesture from a great community.

WINTER 48 FIRECALL

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03/12/2019 10:09

PODGE THOMPSON

MARATHON MAN FF/P Podge Thompson and a number of his colleagues took part in some gruelling tests of their fitness this year, writes Adam Hyland.

I

t’s been a busy year for Tara Street FF/P Podge Thompson, a veteran marathon and endurance race runner, with some impressive feats under his belt.

Having previously run the Dublin marathon with the weight of a child on his shoulders, and completed a 160km run through the Costa Rican wilds at the start of 2019, October saw him and three colleagues from Dolphin’s Barn station head to northern Spain to compete in the Ironman Barcelona triathlon event.

“It’s one of the easier Ironman events to do,” Podge tells me. “It takes place at the end of summer, so you can train for it over the summer months, the water is not too cold, and it’s a flat surface.

“One of my colleagues, Martin McCord at Dolphin’s Barn, was turning 40 this year, and we made an agreement that we would do this Ironman before he hit 40, which happened to be over the weekend the event was being held, so it worked out very well. We put the word out, and Darren Cullen and Paul Jackson from Dolphin’s Barn jumped on board too.”

Podge trains constantly, but preparation for the event was not as strenuous as usual. “Yeah, we did a bit of training, not a huge amount, and headed over and did it in early October. It went very well and we really enjoyed it. I think the mental resolve Martin has from his military background served him well. All four of us completed the triathlon, and we had a great weekend doing it.”

Promoting the challenge for Crumlin Hospital

The toughest part of the three-stage race for Podge was the cycling. “I can swim and run ok, but the bike was an awful long time – six hours for 180km – and I found it tough,” he tells me.

“Just being out for that long without a break. I was a little disappointed with my time, because when I got to the run stage, I felt an awful lot stronger than I thought I would be. I did it in 12 hours 2 minutes, and I would have pushed it to get sub 12 hours if I knew I was that close, but we got the medals, so it was all good.”

CHALLENGE The event served as good preparation for Podge’s next test. When we first spoke, he had just run the Dublin Marathon and was preparing to fly out to New York to take part in the New York version. Before the flight, he ran the equivalent of a marathon around Dublin before heading to the airport, and planned to do the same in Central Park on arrival, before taking part in the official New York Marathon on 3 October – the idea being to run two official marathons on two continents in 22 hours, but in actuality, running the equivalent of four marathons in one week.

Taking a well-deserved break after completing the New York Marathon for Crumlin Hospital

There were several reasons for taking this on.

“I had already agreed to go to the New York Marathon in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital this year, to help the other people going over to take part, acting as a sort of rep,” Podge tells me. “By chance, when I was in with Crumlin to get the itinerary, we were talking about their Giggle Fund, where they give money to the wards, for example, if it is a child’s birthday, they buy a present and decorations, so they can do stuff in the ward for them.

I thought this was fantastic.

“The Giggle part also reminded me of Adrian O’Grady, because he

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PODGE THOMPSON

had the most contagious laugh. I thought it would be good to try to raise awareness for the Giggle Fund and Crumlin Hospital, and if possible, raise some money for them as well – the target being €8,000. But I also wanted to do it in memory of Adrian. I called it the Big Jessie Challenge, after Aido’s nickname in Dolphin’s Barn, and it was amazing to be able to do it.”

ETHIOPIA ROAD RACE Following that feat came a different type of test, as Podge and seven other FF/Ps – Neal Dempsey, Danny Dorney, Eithne Scully, David Adams, David Greally, Neil Cusker and Tony McClean – flew out to Addis Ababa to take part in the Great Ethiopian Run, a 10k race through the third highest city in the world on 17 November (S/O Justin Burns unfortunately tore his hamstring at the last minute while training for the race). Africa’s biggest road race, founded by long-distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie, takes place at a very challenging 10,000ft above sea level.

The DFB members taking part also joined up for the event in order to raise funds for charity. “S/O Justin Burns is on an executive committee with DCC, looking at water quality, and he linked in with a charity called the Vita Foundation that brings water filtration systems to countries that need cleaner drinking water,” Podge

The DFB team enjoying the views from the 10,000ft altitude in Ethiopia

tells me. “So, we thought that would be a very good cause.”

When we first spoke, Podge was very much looking forward to it. “We will be running with an absolute legend, and it is the most colourful and largest 10k race on the planet,” he tells me, adding that the team will also get to see water irrigation and filtration systems being installed in villages, as well as farming practices, while they may be able to pass on some firstaid training.

The altitude, he says, would pose a test. “It is very tough,” Podge says.

“When I did that run in Costa Rica, I got altitude sickness, and I have to say it was horrible. I would consider myself as fit enough, but when I did that run, climbing gradually to altitude, I felt great, and then… bang!

I got heatstroke before, but this was ten times worse. I felt like my head

The visits to Ethiopian communities gave the team memories they will never forget

was going to explode, I felt sick but couldn’t get sick, my body just wasn’t reacting. So, it will be interesting to see how we react when we get over there and have to run at that altitude.”

It would all be worth it though, with the team aiming to raise a total of €30,000.

They paid for their own flights and accommodation, but as with the Ironman event in Barcelona, the DFB Sports and Social Club part sponsored them. “The DFBSSC were a huge help,” Podge says. “Many thanks to The committee, they were great in supporting us.”

Upon his return, Podge was delighted with how the race, and the trip in general, went. “We spent close to a week in Ethiopia, visiting different initiatives set up by the Irish charity Vita, and were welcomed by different tribes openly throughout the week,” he tells me. “An amazing trip was had by all, and the great characters from the DFB really brought a different aspect to the trip with their humour and personality.

Vita will hopefully be looking to start a new partnership with the DFB, and we may be able to send a team every year.

“We all agreed it was a very humbling experience and one we will never forget. Thanks to Ciara at Vita for helping with everything we witnessed. It was a once in a lifetime experience, and running the 10,000 metre road race at 10,000 feet altitude with 45,000 Ethiopians was unforgettable.”

WINTER 50 FIRECALL

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03/12/2019 10:12

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27/11/2019 12:00 13/12/2019 09:00

GOLF CLUB

TOP COMPETITION The 2019 All Ireland Fire Services Golf Championship was the closest ever, writes Ray Campion.

Winning captain Tony Lowe

1ST Tony Lowe Keith Flynn Brian Gilbert Alan Moore 90pts 2ND John Carden Liam Cawley Fergus Marrin Simon Craig 89pts

The winning team of Tony Lowe, Keith Flynn, Brian Gilbert and Alan Moore

teams finishing on 89 points. Previous winners John Foster, Colm Sherlock, Bob Leggett and Aiden O’Sullivan, the team of Jim Sargent, Paul Keane, Ian Dowling and Mick Duggan, and the Mayo team of Liam Cawley, Simon Craig, John Carden and Fergus Marrin were all in contention. But the title went to the Dublin team of Tony Lowe, Keith Flynn, Brian Gilbert and Alan Moore, with a winning score of 90 points.

Well done to all who took part, and a special thanks to Kerry McLoughlin for organising teams to travel from Northern Ireland.

This year we also had an appearance from Ireland manager Mick McCarthy and Robbie Keane, and we would like to thank them for their support.

Finally, a big thank you to Castleknock Golf Club, and especially Warren and his staff for their welcome and assistance. The course was in immaculate condition and the food was to the highest standards. We look forward to our return for the 20th anniversary, with all our regular competitors, and hopefully many new ones.

3RD John Foster Bob Leggett Colm Sherlock Aiden O’Sullivan 89pts 4TH Jim Sargent Paul Keane Ian Dowling Mick Duggan 89pts

RESULTS

T

he much-anticipated All Ireland Golf Championships held at Castleknock Golf Club on 6 September lived up to expectations this year, with more than 20 teams from all over the country vying for the coveted trophy.

Thanks to our long-serving honorary firefighter Colm Kinsella, who looks after admin and also stood in to play with one of the teams, and thanks too to Luke McCann and Johnny Mahon for the food.

Goody bag of tees, balls, goodies and a commemorative marker were given to all golfers, courtesy of DUBCO credit union (thanks to Dean Ladrigan for his assistance), with the prizes courtesy of DFBSSC and supplied by McGuirks Golf, with thanks sincere thanks to Philip Ring.

The nearest to the pin competition was on the 9th hole, with the winning shot made by Aiden O’Sullivan.

Longest drive went to Ray Touhy, who boomed one down the middle on 14.

This was the closest ever result in the 19 years of the competition, with four

5TH Conor Morris Ken Kavanagh Jim Kavanagh Jim King 89pts NEAREST THE PIN Aiden O’Sullivan LONGEST DRIVE Ray Touhy

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09/12/2019 09:51

DFB GAA The DFB and NYFD teams at Gaelic Park

BACK IN ACTION The DFB GAA team’s trip to New York was an enjoyable but poignant event.

O

ctober saw the DFB GAA team rekindle their friendly rivalry with the Fire Department of New York, with 39 members travelling to the US to take on their FDNY counterparts in a match at Gaelic Park. The visit included a lot of action both on and off the pitch, with the feedback from the trip extremely positive, and following its success, will see the FDNY visit Dublin in 2021.

The tie’s origins came out of the idea of solidarity and brotherhood within fire services worldwide, Senan Moylan, a Sub Officer at Tara Street station, tells me. “After 9/11, the then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Michael Mulcahy, thought it would be a very good way of offering support and showing camaraderie to have the DFB and NYFD teams meet up and play,” he tells me. “The trophy is called the Lord Mayor’s Trophy, because it was

his brainchild. The NYFD have always had a GAA team and it is quite strong, and we first managed to visit them to play a match in 2002.”

That visit was followed by trips in 2004, 2006 and 2008, with the FDNY coming to Dublin in 2003, 2005 and 2007, before the financial crisis in 2008 made it too difficult to finance. “That meant interest died off again for a few years,” Senan explains, “but last year, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service somehow managed to get the use of Croke Park to play a match to commemorate 100 years of their Fire Brigade Union. They asked us to play, which was great, but they also invited a few of the NYFD team to come over for the event, and during the course of the evening, their main organiser, Battalion Commander from the Bronx, Eddie Boles, asked if we would be interested in coming over again in 2019.”

Senan and the others didn’t hesitate.

“As soon as we spoke, literally in the dressing room after the game, we got everybody together – it’s difficult to get us all together because we are

spread across all stations and Watches – and we arranged to deduct some money from wages to save towards the trip. That gave people an incentive immediately. It was a small enough amount, with a larger deposit in January that sealed your place on the trip.”

With everyone on board, plans could begin in earnest, and the trip was extended to take in the 9/11 Memorial Parade. “We wanted to make the effort to go to the parade, because it is a unique occasion and a lot of the lads wanted to see it,” Senan says. “We were in full uniform, and the whole thing was very impressive.”

The extra day also meant the team could play a warm-up match before facing the FDNY. “We went up to Rockland GAA in upstate New York – a very impressive GAA grounds - and they gave us a tough but very enjoyable game on the Thursday,” Senan says. “It was great to blow off the cobwebs before the big game on Saturday. A few of the lads struggled, but it was a great occasion and they looked after us really well. We had

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DFB GAA The captains of DFB and Rockland GAA prepare to do battle

Members of Recruit Class 1_96 Derek Dowling, Ian Kelly, Alan Doyle and Senan Moylan, still going strong

Presenting a plaque to Rockland GAA Manager Gerry Riordan

a few speeches and we gave their manager a small plaque to show our appreciation for their time and for taking care of us so well.”

EXCURSIONS Apart from taking part in the 9/11 Memorial Parade, the GAA team were shown tremendous generosity by the FDNY team, who brought them around to see the sights, including the 9/11 Museum, plus more than a few local hostelries.

“A lot of the lads went to see the NEW York Giants play, and the NYFD organised the tickets. The rest of us met up with them afterwards and had a great evening,” Senan tells me.

“Even the hostelries around Times Square where we were staying, a lot of them are Irish-owned, and they looked after us really well. A lot of lads went and did the usual sightseeing in their

With the picture of Adrian O’Grady outside the 911 Memorial Museum

free time, but overall, we were looked after so well. We were picked up from the airport, brought on excursions, brought to the game. It was the first trip for some of the lads, and it was definitely an eye opener for them, and they are determined to look after the NYFD when they come over here next.”

I have to thank their GAA President Billy Nolan, and both Eddie Boles and Barry Annette, for organising everything so well. The organisation for the match and our excursions on the trip wouldn’t have been possible without them. We hope to repay their kindness when they come over here in 2021.

THE BIG GAME The main event, however, was on the Saturday at Gaelic Park, and it turned out to be a very close game. “It was a

very hot day, and they had a very good team out for the occasion,” Senan recalls. “We had pulled away towards the end of the match, but maybe a few managerial decisions meant they got a very late goal to level the scores. It was good because we didn’t win, we didn’t lose, and we all enjoyed it. We told them we would like them to keep hold of the trophy, and invited them to come over to us in 2021, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.”

Though previous matches here have taken place at Parnell Park or Senan’s local club St Vincent’s in Marino, there are hopes that this time they might be allowed to play at Croke Park. “That will take a lot of work, but it would give them a lot of incentive to come over,” Senan says, “and there was a huge response to the game against NIFRS last year, so we will have to wait and see. It would be a

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great occasion for them to come over and play on the hallowed turf, and for us to take back the trophy!”

ABSENT FRIENDS Before both games, a minute’s silence was held in honour of S/O Adrian O’Grady, a stalwart of previous trips with the GAA club who was scheduled to take this trip before his passing away. “Our PRO from previous trips, D/O Paddy Rogers, unfortunately passed away in 2016, and another stalwart of the trips and the GAA team, a good friend of mine Robbie Kane, passed away in 2015. I know both of them would have been on this trip,” Senan says,” but this trip was dominated by the absence of Adrian O’Grady, there’s no other way of saying it.

“A lot of the NYFD lads were very appreciative of the situation, and some of them knew him very well. I knew he was really looking forward to the trip, because I had spoken to him just a couple of nights before. He was to be our PRO for the trip, was going to do the speeches. Then we got the news the night before the trip.”

As with the match at Rockland, a minute’s silence in honour of Adrian was held, with both sides wearing black armbands. Adrian’s Number 8 jersey he had worn as captain of the team on the 2002 visit was laid out in the centre circle, with a framed picture of him being included in all of the team photos, and a small video was recorded to mark the occasion.

“We just had to mark the occasion for Adrian, because so many lads knew him very well, including myself,” Senan tells me. “I would have played against him when I played for St Vincent’s and he played for St Anne’s, before we even joined the Brigade. So, I knew him quite well, through both the GAA and the job.

“Adrian was a mountain of a man, and not just because he was brilliant at his job. He was so well respected, and he is an awful loss, not just to the lads he worked with in his station in Tallaght, but to the DFB in general,

LEFT: Adrian went everywhere with us, this time to visit the local fire station BELOW: The DFB GAA squad with the picture of Adrian O’Grady outside St John the Divine in Harlem

because he did so much work in the background with CISM. He will be sorely missed.

“As soon as we got over there, we got those pictures of him framed and brought them with us everywhere we went. He was with us in every group photo, both literally and metaphorically, in that he was in all of our thoughts throughout the trip.”

IMPORTANCE Trips such as this are of vital importance to the DFB GAA team.

“They are very important,” Senan agrees. “It was a great way for the lads to get to know each other, when ordinarily they wouldn’t get to see each other because they are on different Watches in different stations.

We had retired members on the trip, a good few lads who are new to the job, so there was a good range, including a father and son, with Vinny and Conor Carton getting to play together, and everybody got on really well. Some of the lads who had never met before came back as best friends. The craic

and camaraderie were brilliant, and I have to say it was as good a trip as I have ever been on with the DFB. “I got messages of thanks from everybody when we got back, with a couple of the lads saying it was the best six days of their lives, so that was great to hear. But it is also important to have trips like this because it provides something different, it gives people something to look forward to.”

SUPPORT While each member of the team paid for their six-day visit, Senan is also grateful to their sponsors, who helped to make the trip so enjoyable.

“The support we received from our sponsors DUBCO and Cornmarket was great, but particularly the support from the DFBSSC,” he tells me. “The committee gave us a generous grant, which helped make the trip much more enjoyable. We wouldn’t have been able to do as much as we did without their support, so I am very grateful to them. We hope it continues!”

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RETIRED MEMBERS

RETIRED MEMBER PROFILE

Adrian “Aido” Sutton Adam Hyland talks to retired D/O and Fire Prevention Chief Adrian Sutton about his life in the DFB.

A

nyone watching TV or taking a bus in the 1990s might find Adrian Sutton familiar, as he made regular TV appearances to talk about fire safety and was the face of posters for the National Safety Council’s campaign to promote awareness around the importance of smoke alarms.

Adrian was a Sub Officer in Tara Street when, in 1992, he was asked to take part in a photoshoot for the poster campaign. “I got an awful lot of slagging about that,” he admits, “but it came about when the Assistant Chief asked if anyone had a young child they could use in a poster campaign for the National Safety Council. I had a niece, who was about five at the time. Next thing, a photographer arranges for me to call to him for a photoshoot.

“The lads were slagging me when they saw the posters because they said they had never seen me so dirty in all my working life, but it was actually make-up and a smoke machine used to create the effect. The lads also knew I had no problem firefighting, and I used to give as good as I got by telling them I was paid a fortune for it, and was getting royalties every year because they were still using the image. It just took off - it was on all the billboards and sides of buses.

That was 1994 through to 2008,

Adrian Sutton at home

when the National Safety Council disbanded. So, they got great mileage out of that.”

JOINING Adrian had been in the DFB for some time by then, having joined in 1982. “We were the first class to

have to do the aptitude test,” Adrian tells me. “But 22,000 people applied for the job, and we sat a paper test, similar to the one done online now. I was in the Civil Service, in the wages department of the P&T, so I was quite good at figures, and that helped me.

Obviously, they couldn’t take so many

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RETIRED MEMBERS

people, but in the end, they took 48 and I was on the panel.

“I was delighted, because I had an uncle in the DFB as well, George Sutton, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. He was an S/O in Finglas in the 1970s, and I loved sitting in the fire engine, as all children do, when I visited, so I knew I wanted to join.”

Adrian was assigned to C Watch in Tara Street, but after a year he went to Finglas station, then to Phibsboro in 1984, where he stayed until 1992.

He completed further training and got promoted to Sub Officer that year, when he returned to Tara Street to work on C and D Watch. He was soon on the move again, becoming an S/O at North Strand in 1996, then on to Kilbarrack as S/O on B Watch until 2004, when he again returned to Tara Street as D/O and Head of Fire Prevention.

“I definitely did the work in my time,” he tells me. “I took the calls in the control room, went out to countless RTCs and fires, and I got a commendation from the Chief in the early 1990s for saving a family of three from a fire on Camden Street.

“Back then, every weekend you were pulling people out of vehicles.

That was tough. There was no counselling or CISM. We would all come back to the station and talk about the experience, but we were only human. You just had to get on with it. You get hardened to it, when you see it so regularly. Having said that, there was also great satisfaction in doing your job, especially when you saved a life.

“My son Richard (whose recent marriage is featured in our In Brief section) would agree with all of this, as he is also a firefighter in Finglas, and I’m very proud to have a third generation of DFB members in the family.”

FIRE PREVENTION Adrian’s move into Fire Prevention came when a panel was set up looking for a D/O and Fire Prevention Chief to manage fire regulations in building

The National Safety Council poster featuring Adrian and his niece

citywide, and to promote awareness.

“I was relatively young, only 44, so I didn’t think I had much of a chance,” Adrian tells me. “There were 15 people going for four positions, and there were a lot of senior firefighters who had been in charge of highprofile incidents, so I thought I would never be able to compete. But I made number two on the panel, and with two slots available, I went straight in.”

The new role brought a lot of changes for Adrian. “You were working on your own a lot,” he says, “which I found difficult at first. The shift was different too – three days, three nights, three days off – so it was

hard, but it was a good job. Dublin city and county has such a huge Fire Prevention department, and a lot of that is down to the changes made after the Stardust. We worked three weekends in the month, because back then it was mainly the weekend when things got busy. Nowadays, the city is buzzing every day of the week, but there is still the same shift there, so it was difficult to work those hours later on.

“It was a big change, but Jim Fleming had been there since 1982 and he took me under his wing and taught me everything he knew. Pat Fleming was my chief, and he also taught me a lot.”

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RETIRED MEMBERS

Adrian was given Foxtrot District – a huge area to look after. “I got the chance to go back to college to do a Postgrad diploma in fire safety practices in Trinity in 2007, and the following year I went back to do a diploma in health and safety,” he says, “and that really helped me, because it meant I could both talk the talk and walk the walk.”

The role involved looking after some 3,000-4,000 buildings, inspecting pubs, clubs, hotels, hospitals, residential homes, nursing homes, as well as concerts and matches. “I had a very good relationship with all of my clients,” Adrian says. “At the end of the day, fire prevention is very simple. You go into a building and see how many fire escapes there are, how many extinguishers, look at the alarms, ask how many people are trained up, and then tell them what they need to do. Managers need to know these things, because in the end it is their responsibility. They might not know all the legislation and codes, but if you tell them, and they do what they are told, then that is the job done.”

Some inspections came about when firefighters would call in regarding a site they had been to, and some of the conditions and lapses in fire safety were hard to believe, Adrian tells me.

“One time there was a fire near Croke Park and we ended up taking 175 people out of a three-storey building.

It was wall to wall mattresses, because they were all sleeping there,” he says.

“We had to close the premises, and in the end, we put a stop to an unsafe practice.

“We also did a lot of fire safety talks at residential homes, schools, etc, spreading awareness around Halloween and Christmas, and did a lot of TV work. I was on The Afternoon Show a lot, talking about the dangers of bonfires, Christmas tree lights, overworked plug sockets.

We had a film crew with us in 1998 who shot a half hour programme, so it was good media coverage. Then there were those posters. I think we got the

job that I didn’t like. It is hard on your family when you work a lot of weekends, but my uncle retired as a D/O, so I wanted to get to that rank too.”

Overall, Adrian very much enjoyed every aspect of his career. “Fire prevention was great,” he says.

“Showing people what they needed to do to make a building safe. It was enjoyable to have people listen to you and take your expertise on board. But it was also great to work as an S/O with a great bunch of lads.”

Adrian with his son Richard on his pass out in 2016

message of fire safety and prevention across very well.”

Because he came up through the ranks, Adrian felt that his position as Fire Prevention Chief was respected.

“I knew what I was talking about, I had taken people out of fires,” he says, “and that is important, and is something you see in the DFB, the top people in the job have all come up through the ranks. You can’t buy that experience.”

BUSY TIMES The work involved in keeping Dublin’s buildings and citizens safe has grown immeasurably over the years, according to Adrian. “My claim to fame was that I retired in 2015, and they had to take on five D/ Os to replace me. That’s not true, of course, but they did have to take on five people because of the amount of work that now needed to be done.

In the year before I retired, I was asked to inspect every single nursing home in Dublin. That’s a big job, and a depressing job, but also a very big responsibility. But I did it, and other projects like it. I had my phone on 24/7, but I could never turn down a request, and it never bothered me. I was there to help, that was the job.

“You had to prioritise, because there were never enough days in the week,” he tells me, “but having said that, there wasn’t any part of the

RETIREMENT Adrian retired in 2015, when he was 55. “I could have stayed until 65 as an officer, but I decided to leave when I did because I had my health and a good pension. I do miss the call outs though, when you had to get hands on, which I did less of as I moved up to D/O. Of course, a call out at 3am in the lashing rain wasn’t great, but that’s what you were getting paid for. I don’t miss the weekends, or the night shifts, but I do miss the camaraderie, and I got great satisfaction in helping save lives.”

Life now is still busy, but in different ways, for Adrian. As well as working a couple of days a week in fire consultancy, he and his wife Caroline breed racehorses from their holiday home base in Wexford, they travel to their house in Nice several times a year, and daughter Carol has three children – Olivia, Katie and Sam – who keep Adrian busy too.

“I have also organised the Annual Deceased Member’s Mass for the last 11 years. I took over from Jim Fleming when he retired, and when I retired the Chief asked me if I would continue to do it, and I also run the Chief’s retired member’s party every year. The lads all really enjoy that.

The banter and slagging at that, and in the job in general, is unbelievable.

I think that is all part of the job. You have to be able to give it and take it.

It’s all part of being in what is a really great job, and it keeps me in touch with the DFB.”

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CHRISTMAS PARTY

Santa Claus is

COMING TO TOWN

T

he annual DFBSCC Christmas Party took place on Sunday, 8 December, once more at the Castleknock Hotel. The traditional yuletide atmosphere was as good as ever, with a cosy grotto, sparkling lights and festive decorations encouraging more than 400 children and their families to eat, drink and be merry. Over the course of four hours, everybody enjoyed the usual fun, games and brilliant entertainment, with face painters, balloon model makers, dancers and magicians all proving very popular. Some much-loved characters from the big and small screen also came along to join in the fun, with the day topped off by a visit from the man himself, Santa Claus. We must say thank you to all the staff at the Castleknock Hotel, who were brilliant on the day, and all of the committee whose hard work beforehand and on the day was invaluable, because without them the day could not go ahead. And, of course, a big thank you to Santa himself for taking time out from his very busy schedule to meet all of the children at the party.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Emergency Services News From Around the Globe.

LEGISLATION FOR EQUIPMENT SAFETY Two US Senators have introduced new bipartisan legislation that would take important steps towards addressing health concerns regarding firefighters’ occupational exposure to harmful chemicals through their personal protective equipment.

The Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act, introduced

by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Cory Gardner, would authorise a comprehensive study of the PPE worn by firefighters to determine the identity and concentration of harmful PFAS chemicals, and the risk of exposure to them.

The legislation would also establish a federal grant programme to

advance the development of safe alternatives to these PFAS chemicals in personal protective equipment.

“Firefighters have enough to worry about when they’re on duty – the last thing they should be concerned with is the safety of their own protective gear,” said Senator Shaheen. “We know PFAS is in certain types of firefighting foam, which means our firefighters are already more likely to face exposure. With research indicating these harmful chemicals have also been found in firefighters’ personal protective equipment, it’s imperative that Congress take action to keep our first responders safe.”

COLOMBIA

SOUTH AMERICAN NATIONS AGREE AMAZON PROTECTION PACT Seven South American countries have agreed measures to protect the Amazon river basin, amid global concern over massive fires in the world’s largest tropical forest.

At a summit in Colombia, the host nation alongside Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname signed the pact, setting up a disaster response network and satellite monitoring. They also agreed to work on reforestation, and put more efforts into education and increasing the role of indigenous communities in keeping the Amazon healthy.

“This meeting will live on as a coordination mechanism for the presidents that share this treasure – the Amazon,” said Colombian President Ivan Duque, who hosted the summit in the city of Leticia.

CHINA

FIREFIGHTING LAW REFORM

✶

✶

USA

The Communist Party of China has published a new guideline to deepen the reform of firefighting law enforcement in the country.

China will comprehensively reform the supervision and management of fire control work, step up management, and prevent and defuse risk, according to the new guidelines, which also plan to further streamline administration and remove various barriers in firefighting supervision.

The document has outlined 12 major tasks of reform in five areas, with qualification licensing of firefighting technical service organisations cancelled, while restrictions on the market access of firefighting products will be eased amid efforts to improve the quality of supervision services.

Firefighting violations will be registered in offenders’ records and enterprises with severe illegalities will be “blacklisted”.

The Internet of Things and Big Data will also be used to enable real-time evaluation of fire risks.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

HOME ESCAPE WEBSITE A SUCCESS

✶ ✶✶ ✶

NEW ZEALAND

SCOTLAND

FIRE SERVICE GOES ELECTRIC

A new website designed to help people escape from their homes in the event of a fire was viewed by more than 52,000 people in two months, to the “delight” of Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

The Escape My House website guides people through five simple things they need to do to ensure they and their families can survive a house fire. A plan is then emailed to participants so they can practice it at home.

Of the 52,000 people who had visited the site since its 17 June launch, more than 12,000 completed the steps to learn what constitutes a good plan.

“Fewer than 40% of New Zealanders have escape plans so it is encouraging that more people are starting to think about how they will get themselves and their families to safety in a fire,” said National Advisor Fire Risk Manager Peter Gallagher.

“Most people think they will react quickly enough in an emergency, but reality shows that people don’t behave rationally in a panic situation. Survivors survive not because they are braver or more heroic than other people, but because they are better prepared.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand also developed a Maori version of the website, launched on 9 September.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has ordered 45 electric cars to be used throughout the country as the company’s general pool vehicles. The zero-omission Renault Zoes will be used by uniformed staff, office employees and management to interact with the public in non-emergency situations.

The electric cars, joining a fleet of 1,800 other vehicles, will be based at strategic locations in all major cities as well as Orkney and the Shetland Islands, with SFRS installing up to six charging points at each site. SFRS Fleet Manager Scott Roberts said the switch to all-electric vehicles is “a major step in our future direction and while we have previously adopted hybrid technology with a handful of vehicles, they felt more like a box-ticking exercise and never really worked on a practical or financial basis”. He added that the SFRS will be replacing all pool cars with the Renault Zoe in due course, with the electric van Kangoo ZE also to be introduced.

ENGLAND

SOUTH AFRICA

Fireman Sam has been dropped as a fire service mascot, following claims he is not inclusive enough.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said it made the decision after receiving negative feedback about the mascot based on the popular children’s TV show.

Lincolnshire CFO Les Britzman said the mascot was outdated and did not help sell the fire safety message.

London Fire Brigade supported the decision,

A study in wild fires in Africa by Wits University in Johannesburg has been backed up by statistics from NASA, who have dubbed Africa the “fire continent” due to the fact that at least 70% of the 10,000 fires burning worldwide on an average August day occur there. While the fires burning in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest made headline news for weeks this year, satellite images show a far greater number of blazes on the African continent. In one week in August, Angola had three times as many fires as Brazil, with 6,000, while Congo had 3,000.

Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, former chief negotiator for the Africa Zone at the 2015 United Nations climate change conference, said agricultural practices known as “slash and burn” need to be better managed.“It is a great threat to our forests,” he said of the technique.

FIREMAN SAM DROPPED AS FIRE SERVICE MASCOT saying the use of the term “Fireman” instead of “Firefighter” ingrains especially in the young that it is a male only role.

Earlier this year, the fire service accused both Fireman Sam and Peppa Pig of being sexist for using the term “Fireman”.

Lincolnshire’s Fire Service will now use their other mascots, fire extinguishershaped Freddy, Filbert and Penelope, for promotional material.

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TRAVEL

FESTIVAL

OF FUN

Spring sees a huge number of festivals taking place across the world. Here’s some of the stranger ones you can take part in.

ORANGE DISORDER

The Carnival of Ivrea, held in the third week of February in the north-western Italian town of Ivrea near Turin, was first established in 1808. It starts out with what might look like a normal carnival procession through the streets, but things quickly get out of hand as participants and spectators alike get involved in a “battle of the oranges”, in which huge amounts of the fruit are thrown at and by everyone present.

The event is supposed to be a re-enactment of the people’s rebellion against the Royal Napoleonic Troops, when commoners threw away food their feudal lord had given them.

Unlike the more well-known Tomatina tomato-throwing festival in Spain, there is slightly more order to proceedings here. The battle itself is made up of squads of “aranceri” or orange throwers, who on one side are on foot (representing the common people), and on the other, are carried along in open-top carts (representing the troops).

Having said that, anyone can get involved if they want to. Spectators can choose to wear a red hat to mark themselves as a bystander (which also excludes you from throwing any oranges), and can stand behind the nets erected to protect the town’s buildings, or they can just join in. Either way, you can enjoy the bizarre sights and delicious smells you won’t forget in a hurry.

The nearest airport to Ivrea is in Turin, with trains / driving time taking an hour and a half

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TRAVEL

CHOC FULL If you like chocolate, and you like festivals, then the Óbidos Chocolate Festival is for you. Taking place in the last week of April in the medieval Portuguese town of Óbidos, the castle and narrow cobblestone streets are transformed into showrooms where cakes, truffles and pastries tempt onlookers, who can sample or buy them, while a magnificent chocolate sculpture exhibition will leave you both amazed and hungry.

Children will be entertained by the Chocolate House where they can play games or try some simple recipes, while adults can take part in cooking classes (with chocolate a staple ingredient) and watch the various competitions. If you think that everything in the world should involve some form of chocolate, then you should also check out the chocolate fashion show. Óbidos is a beautiful town in its own right, but when the chocolate festival starts, it becomes even better.

Fly to Lisbon and take the express bus or drive (1 hour)

SOMETHING FISHY Gran Canaria has the second biggest Carnival celebration in the world, after Rio, and they really do pull out all the stops every year. Taking place towards the end of February next year, there will be a huge number of celebrations to attend, with the main event being the Carnival parade itself, which sees a quarter of a million people stroll through Las Palmas in fancy dress (this year’s theme is “Once upon a time”).

However, if you want bizarre, then you really need to get to the Burial of the Sardine parade, which takes place the following night, as the celebrations come to a close. This takes the form of a carnival parade that parodies a funeral procession through the streets, with everybody encouraged to wear black and some going above and beyond by wearing full mourning dresses.

Central to the procession is a huge model of a sardine, placed on a float/ funeral carriage, which is slowly driven with a mock solemnity towards the beach as participants gather around it and walk in front, behind or alongside it as it makes its way to the beach, where it is set alight to represent a new beginning. Utterly strange and very memorable, it’s something you have to see at least once.

There are regular flights to Las Palmas, with a taxi from the airport taking only ten minutes

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TRAVEL

FIREWORK FRENZY On the night before Orthodox Easter, the town of Vrontados on the Greek island of Chios plays host to a spectacular nocturnal event when two rival churches take part in a very unusual festival. Taking the Greek tradition of throwing fireworks during the celebration of midnight mass before Easter Sunday up a few notches, “Rouketpolemos”, or the rocket war, does what it says in the tin: at 8pm, the two neighbouring churches begin firing thousands of fireworks at each other, filling the night sky with the sight and sound of exploding rockets.

Locals hike up into the hills to get the best views, as the tens of thousands of home-made rockets aim to hit the bell tower of the rival church some 400 metres away. The origins of the festival are unclear, but the impossibility of telling which side made the most direct hits on the other’s bell tower means both sides always claim victory, guaranteeing that there will be a rematch the following year.

Fly to Athens and then on to Chios (45 minutes) if you don’t want to take the 7-hour ferry

BED TIME The Sitges Carnival runs for a week in mid-February in the town of Sitges near Barcelona, with a series of colourful parades and celebrations taking place over the course of eight days, but the highlight has to be the annual Race of the Beds.

If you’ve ever seen the Red Bull Soapbox race, you will get an idea of what to expect, although the means of chaotic transport here is limited to a decorated bed with one team member lying in it and another four pushing it along from the town centre to Plaza de Espana. It’s the perfect combination of footrace, fancy dress and carnival debauchery. They have a saying here that anything is fair at carnival, or roughly, anything goes, and that sense of fun is apparent throughout the town, and especially at this event.

It’s a real family affair, with children allowed to take part in the race as long as one of their parents is also a member of the team, and seasoned pros deem it a slight advantage to have a child as the bed-bound member.

Hay bales provide protection for the onlooking crowds, but they also provide obstacles for the teams, who compete for trophies for the race, best costume and best bed.

Buses go direct from Barcelona Airport to Sitges (45 minutes)

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BOOK REVIEW

BOOKSHELF THE PEELER’S NOTEBOOK, POLICING VICTORIAN DUBLIN: Mad

Dogs, Duels and Dynamite,

by Barry Kennerk

ALL IN,

by Jamie Heaslip with Matt Cooper

V

ictorian Dublin was as unsettling and dangerous a place as the London of that era, with violent tenement mobs, garrotte-wielding thieves and Fenian rebels lurking in the ever-present fog.

For the Metropolitan Police, or “Peelers”, established in 1836, keeping the citizens of the second largest city in the British Empire was at times a thankless task. Under the instruction of Robert Peel, who had established the Metropolitan Police in London, this new force replaced the outdated Dublin Charleys, who operated a sort of night watch on the streets.

Their duties were varied and dangerous, from catching rabid dogs to dealing with duels on Bull Island, and from catching grave robbers to cracking down on the countless brothels littered across the city.

Drawing on archival sources, newspapers and first-hand accounts from policemen, street traders and residents of the inner city, author Barry Kennerk introduces us to this murky underworld to reveal the very real dangers and challenges of being a policeman in this era – being attacked by mobs when attempting arrests, sleeping in their uniforms in preparation for emergencies, and dealing with unruly but privileged students from Trinity and other wealthy young men - but he also paints a vivid and compelling picture of Dublin’s streets and its memorable characters.

Through fascinating snippets of history, this book tells a range of strange tales, including how 400 policemen petitioned to defy orders and keep their beards when new rules required shaving them off, and of a morbid scam run by a doctor and coroner involving dressing corpses in another person’s clothes and throwing them into the canal so that upon their recovery, they could collect the subsequent post-mortem fees twice.

Sometimes gruesome, sometimes funny, but always interesting, this miscellany of tales and anecdotes brings the past to life, and is a must-read for anybody interested in the history of Dublin city, and the weird and wonderful people who have lived in it.

For rugby fans of a certain vintage, Jamie Heaslip will always be remembered as Leinster and Ireland’s No.8. With more than 230 appearances for Leinster, 95 caps for Ireland and two Lions tours under his belt, he has seen it all, and in this enjoyable autobiography, he shares his stories of life in a golden age for Irish rugby.

Ably assisted by Matt Cooper, who pulls the strands of Heaslip’s life story together, this is a book full of humorous anecdotes and inspirational lessons, combining the sporting characters we may be familiar with, and some details we may not have known before.

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BOOK REVIEW

THE TESTAMENTS,

by Margaret Atwood With The Handmaid’s Tale first published in 1985, and with the recent TV adaptation fuelling huge interest, the follow-up from Margaret Atwood has been hotly anticipated ever since the author announced it was in the works. Taking place 15 years after the events of that first novel, this sequel doesn’t disappoint. This time, the story is shared among three very different voices – the privileged daughter of a Commander, a young Canadian resistance supporter, and Aunt Lydia, the iconic matron who oversees the Handmaids’ training. The return of Aunt Lydia will appeal to fans of this cruel yet strangely likeable character, particularly as she is given an illuminating backstory, and while the prose is less literary than expected from a Booker prize-nominated work, the story is gripping throughout.It would have been very easy for the author to draw strong parallels with current affairs, but the novel’s strength lies in its subtlety and the drip-feed of information that keeps the reader on their toes.

BOULEVARD WREN AND OTHER STORIES,

by Blindboy Boatclub

Satirist, comedian, podcast presenter, musician, author: It’s safe to say that Blindboy Boatclub, one half of the Rubberbandits, is a man of many talents. This second collection of short stories picks up where his bestselling The Gospel According to Blindboy left off, offering us a glimpse into his surreal mind. The stories range from Famine times to the present day, and while each is very different, with some based in the very real and others in absurdity, they are all laced with a heady mix of humour, sadness, social commentary and his own distinctive insights into the Irish psyche, our culture and our history.

THATCHER’S SPY:

My Life as an MI5 Agent Inside Sinn Féin, by Willie Carlin

Derry-born Willie Carlin, AKA Agent 3007, was recruited

by MI5 in 1974 to infiltrate Sinn Féin. Over the next 11 years, he became one of Britain’s most valuable agents in Northern Ireland, forming close relationships with Martin McGuiness and Mitchel McLaughlin to give the British State unprecedented insight into IRA strategy.

Fraught with obvious danger, Carlin’s life story is fascinating and frightening, from his initial infiltration, through his growing commitment to republicanism when he withheld information from his handlers, right up to when his cover was blown in 1985 and had to be extracted by Margaret Thatcher’s private jet. With the author now never safe, it is brave of him to tell his story, and any fan of Northern Irish history, or espionage in general, will enjoy this book.

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TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS

THE LATEST INNOVATIONS FOR THE WORLD’S EMERGENCY SERVICES.

SENTINEL A new robot designed to assist firefighters and emergency responders with dangerous and physically demanding tasks during operations has been designed

by French engineering company TECDRON. “Sentinel” is a remotely operated platform equipped with electric motors and caterpillar tracks, enabling indoor and outdoor operation for up to six hours.

It is suited to fires with restricted visibility and very high temperatures such as underground fires, or those with a risk of explosion, such as at warehouses, industrial sites or refineries.

Various accessories such as thermal cameras, motorised water cannon,

LED projectors, smoke extraction fans, electric winch and sensors can be attached to the robot, making it extremely versatile and able to perform several successive tasks during the same mission.

The robot can carry up to 800kg of equipment, considerably easing the

firefighter’s progression into hostile environments.

A state-of-the-art system interface enables real-time monitoring of the robot’s components, higher security checks and remote pre-diagnosis in case of incident, while a data logger allows the operator to access the logs and operations history of the robot, accelerating diagnosis should it require maintenance or repair.

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TECHNOLOGY

GAS MONITOR A new multi-gas detector specifically built for drones or other unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has been launched in the US. The FLIR MUVE C360 enables drone pilots to fly the UAS into a scene for initial assessment, with a photoionisation detector and a suite of advanced electrochemical sensors providing a real-time continuous monitoring of chemical hazards such as carbon monoxide, chlorine or other combustible gases.

This capability will enable firefighters and other emergency responders to assess situations remotely and select the appropriate personal protection equipment.

Fire crews using the device can monitor air quality surrounding active scenes before entry, and assess the flow of hazardous vapours both at source and in the air. As a UAS, it can bypass difficult terrain and enables response teams to quickly draw a perimeter and map known hazards, while pre-set alarm thresholds can help command units make quick and correct decisions.

“With greater accessibility to drone technology than ever before, the purpose-built MUVE C360 will provide response teams with improved situational awareness that can help save lives,” said FLIR’s senior vice-president Jeff Frank.

POWER SAVING Smart mobile power systems company Stealth Power has created idle reduction technology for the New York Fire Department (NYFD). The technology, based on Azure and Windows 10 IoT Core, has been installed in more than 300 ambulances, with 76 more to be brought online by the end of 2019. The system automatically turns off a vehicle’s engine when idle, while keeping its electrical communication equipment, heat and A/C running, significantly reducing idle time while keeping critical medical and communication devices running. The reduction in fuel consumption (up to 34%) can significantly lower costs and CO2 emissions. It is estimated that by eliminating ten hours of idle time on each ambulance, the NYFD can prevent 330 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and save 15 gallons of fuel each day, amounting to savings of $3million in fuel costs. Each vehicle has also been equipped with Internet of Things technology that gathers data through an onboard module and sends it wirelessly to the cloud, where it can be analysed to provide real-time alerts and predictive analytics about vehicle usage and engine performance. This enables fleet managers to improve operational efficiency and proactively

reduce maintenance costs. “By connecting our idle reduction system to NYFD vehicles, we can give real-time insights into operational performance,” says Stealth Power CEO Devin Scott. “They see the monetary results of lower fuel consumption, reduced maintenance and decreased engine hours, all of which extend the warranty life of the vehicle, as well as the lifespan of the vehicle itself. And an ambulance is an expensive asset for any city.”

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