Firecall Winter 2023

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DUBLIN FIRE, AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

LAUNCHING OSCAR DISTRICT A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OSCAR’S KIDS CHARITY

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BUILDING A RESCUE COMMUNITY

THE ROPE RESCUE WORKSHOP

BRINGING HOME NEW SKILLSETS The DFB Extrication Team

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DUBLIN FIRE RESCUE EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE

DUBLIN FIRE RESCUE PROTECTING THE CITYSERVICE AND EMERGENCY AMBULANCE COUNTY SINCE 1862 Protecting The City & County Since 1862

@dubfirebrigade

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LETTER

FROM THE

Editor: Adam Hyland Consulting Editor: Ger Ryan Contributors: Ger Ryan, Troy Taylor, Las Fallon, John McNally, Tony McCann, Dave Connolly, Brian Tracey, Darren Donovan, Stephen Bonfil, Niall Brady, Brendan Lodola, David Kavanagh Designer: Neasa Daly Cover Credit: DFB / Andy Rogers Photography: Dublin Fire Brigade, Dublin City Council, Adam Hyland, Ger Ryan, Trevor Hunt, John McNally, Las Fallon, Tony McCann, Darren Donovan, Aidan O’Sullivan, Dave Connolly, Alan Moore, Niall Brady, Stephen O’Neill, Brian Tracey, Brendan Lodola, Stephen Dillon, Andy Rogers, David Kavanagh, Merrion Press, Gill Books, 4th Estate, Drager, University of Texas, Jump Aero, Suppression Gear Inc. Sales Manager: David Byrne 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 ©2023 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.

EDITOR

Dear readers, Welcome to the latest issue of Firecall.

There’s been a lot of activity from the many clubs and societies within the DFBSSC since our last issue, so it’s great to see so many people getting involved in sporting and social events.

To start, a big welcome to Class 1/2023, who passed out recently, and a thank you to Course Director Troy Taylor for his piece on the graduation.

On the sporting side of things there has been a lot of activity, with the DFB Football Team taking on the Gardaí for charity, the DFB GAA Team heading to New York to take on the FDNY GAA Team, and the Golf Society having another busy year. My thanks to Aidan O’Sullivan, to Alan Moore and Niall Brady, and to David Kavanagh respectively, for taking the time to give their accounts.

The Staying in the Saddle for Prostate Cancer Sportive was a tremendous success that raised €25,481 for the Beaumont Hospital Foundation, so congratulations to all involved, and thanks to Brendan Lodola for the account.

On the subject of charity, the new Oscar District partnership between DFB and Oscar’s Kids is a very worthy endeavour and the feature is recommended reading. My thanks to Stephen Cleary, A/C/F/O Greg O’Dwyer and Elaine O’Flaherty for telling me all about it.

Other notable reads are the feature by Stephen Bonfil about the DFB Extrication Team’s participation in the World Rescue Challenge in Lanzarote, and following their participation in two major events this year, the DFB Rope Rescue Team’s inaugural Rope Rescue Workshop held at the Training Centre. Thanks to S/O Dave Connolly for the piece.

The Winter Nights Out were enjoyed by all at a new venue, and the 1875 Club’s Mansion House tasting looked like great fun. Thanks to Brian Tracey for his account, and thanks to Ger Ryan for the information about the many other social activities that took place recently. The coffee mornings at DASH have also proven to be very popular, so keep an eye out for further family-friendly events. Thanks to Stephen O’Neill for telling me all about it.

I must also thank all of the people who contribute regularly to this magazine. Darren Donovan’s snaps from the archives always make for an interesting read, as does Las Fallon’s poignant feature. As always, I’m grateful to DFBRMA Secretary Tony McCann and DFB Pipe Band Secretary John McNally for contributing great pieces again, and to everybody who gave their time to produce this issue.

Thanks and appreciation goes to S/O Justin Burns and the crew of D Watch Dolphin’s Barn for their welcome and participation in the station profile, and to D/O Stephen Dillon for taking the time to talk to me about his career in the Retired Member’s Profile.

Finally, don’t forget to try the quiz and be in with a chance of winning a Press Up Group voucher. The answers can all be found within these pages, so read up and send your answers to me at the following address: adam.hyland@ashvillemediagroup.com I hope you enjoy the read,

EDITOR’S PICKS

23 BRINGING HOME NEW SKILLSETS The DFB Extrication Team at the World Rescue Challenge

56 LAUNCHING OSCAR DISTRICT DFB’s New Partnership with the Oscar’s Kids Charity

64 BUILDING A RESCUE COMMUNITY The Inaugural Rope Rescue Workshop

Adam Hyland FIRECALL WINTER 2023

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CONTENTS TABLE OF

FEATURES 13 OUR LATEST MEMBERS Class 1/2023

20 GOOD RESULT, GREAT CAUSE DFB Football Team Takes on An Garda In Aid of Little Blue Heroes

23 BRINGING HOME NEW SKILLSETS

The DFB Extrication Team at the World Rescue Challenge

28 DASH TO THE PARK

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Coffee Mornings in the Phoenix Park

34 FAMILY FUN

The Annual Summer Fun Day

38 A GREAT EXPERIENCE

The DFB GAA Team’s Trip to New York

41 DFBCC SPORTIVE

The Staying in the Saddle for Prostate Cancer Event Goes from Strength to Strength

45 IN THE SWING

The DFB Golf Society Year

48 IN GREAT SPIRITS

A Special Tasting at the Mansion House for the 1875 Club

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56 LAUNCHING OSCAR DISTRICT DFB’s New Partnership with the Oscar’s Kids Charity

64 BUILDING A RESCUE COMMUNITY

S/O Dave Connolly on the DFB Rope Rescue Team’s Inaugural Rope Rescue Workshop

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67 NIGHTS ON THE TOWN

Drinks and a Catch-Up on the Social Nights Out

72 AT THE MOVIES

Cinema Day at the Savoy

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WINTER 2023 EDITION

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

REGULARS 01 EDITOR’S LETTER 02 CONTENTS 05 SECRETARY’S FOREWORD 06 DFBSSC UPDATES 08 QUIZ

Test Your Knowledge of this Issue of Firecall

09 DFB IN BRIEF 16 FROM WITHIN THE CIRCLE

DFB Pipe Band Update

30 STATION PROFILE

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D Watch Dolphin’s Barn

43 DFB HISTORY

Las Fallon on the Latest Plaque in Memory of Fallen Firefighters

51 RETIRED MEMBER PROFILE D/O Stephen Dillon

60 THE RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION DIARY

The DFBRMA Members Events

68 FROM THE ARCHIVES

Darren Donovan Shares More Snapshots from his Collection

73 BINGEWATCH TV

30 68

The Latest Recommendations

75 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 77 BOOKSHELF 79 TECHNOLOGY

The Latest Innovations for the Emergency Services

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TO THE DUBLIN FIRE SERVICE

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HONORARY SECRETARY’S

FOREWORD

W

elcome readers to our winter 2023 issue of Firecall.

With our membership growing, the DFBSSC Committee continues to work tirelessly behind the scenes to support our various clubs and societies, and it is great to see so many events taking place over the last few months.

Our Summer Fun Day was a tremendous success and has easily become our biggest event of the year, but it wouldn’t be possible without the endeavours and dedication of all involved in organising and running it.

My thanks to the BTO and ABTO for permission to use the training centre once again, all the club reps who helped out on the day, and special thanks to Paul O’Grady from DUBCO who kindly sponsored prizes for the kids who attended.

Our Cinema Day was also a huge success, as were the Social Nights Out in Dakota and the DASH to the Park coffee mornings, which you can read about in this issue.

The GAA Team made another memorable trip to New York to take on their FDNY counterparts recently, and most importantly retained the 100% winning record. Thanks to the Golf Society and the 1875 Club for their updates as to what they have been doing. We are happy to support them and any other club or society with events and activities, and are always open to ideas for new events, so get in touch with a Committee member with any queries.

I’d like to congratulate all of the clubs who raised a lot of money for charities in the last few months. Our feature about DFB’s new partnership with Oscar’s Kids shows how this union is a perfect fit for our communitydriven charity efforts. Appreciation must also go to the DFB Soccer Club who helped raise money for Little Blue Heroes in their friendly match against An Garda Síochána, the Cycling Club who raised an enormous amount of money for the Beaumont Hospital Foundation, and to the Frontline MoBros for raising so much money and awareness for Men’s Health.

It is also worth highlighting the work of the DFB Extrication Team who took part in the World Rescue Challenge in Lanzarote this summer, and to the Rope Rescue Team who hosted the first Rope Rescue Workshop for emergency services at the Training Centre. As the features on these two Teams show, they are helping to share knowledge and skillsets that can only improve our capabilities and the service we provide to the community, so hats off to them.

The regular contributions from Las Fallon, John McNally, Tony McCann and Darren Donovan make for great reads, and my thanks go to them for their input and time.

Thanks again to all who contributed, or who took the time to be interviewed, including retired D/O Stephen Dillon and the crew of D Watch Dolphin’s Barn.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the latest DFB members from Class 1/2023 who passed out in September and have now commenced their paramedic training. I wish you all the best in your new career with DFB. Enjoy the read.

Ger Ryan FIRECALL WINTER 2023

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GER RYAN We are always trying to improve our methods of communications. Each station has a WhatsApp group that is administered by the station DFBSSC Rep. If you wish to be added to the group, contact your station Rep for details.

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

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DUBLIN FIRE, AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

LAUNCHING OSCAR DISTRICT A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OSCAR’S KIDS CHARITY

+

BUILDING A RESCUE COMMUNITY

THE ROPE RESCUE WORKSHOP

BRINGING HOME NEW SKILLSETS The DFB Extrication Team

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27/11/2023 17:23

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SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB UPDATE WE TAKE A LOOK AT RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE DUBLIN FIRE BRIGADE SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB (DFBSSC)

I

t’s been a busy few months since the last Firecall issue, with events held every month to cater for all demographics of our members. In September, we had our Family Day take place, followed by our social nights in October, as well as the first of the Manion House appreciation evenings hosted by Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste. We also returned to the Savoy for our winter Family Cinema Day, and finally the sled was loaded full of selection boxes and toys to bring to Castleknock Hotel for our Kids Christmas Party.

RECENT EVENTS A lot of groups and clubs have been very active recently too.

As always, we are happy to support these groups where and when we can. Some of the events included: • DFB Athletics members competed in the Dublin City Marathon once again this year, with Sub Officer Jonathon Forbes and FF/P Karl Wilson completing it in full PPE and BA. • The 1875 Club have had some memorable evenings, with the final evening of the current president of the club,

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Brian Tracey, hosting his final night on Tuesday, 28 November. Congratulations on a very successful term and best of luck to the incoming president.

• The DFB Cycling Club again hosted a fantastic sportive, this time extending the long distance to 125km to commemorate the 125th year of the DFB ambulance service. Once again, a massive sum of money was raised for Prostate Cancer Research and the Beaumont Hospital Foundation.

groups administrated by the station reps, on our private social media pages, and weekly updates in DFB’s Request to Speak bulletin.

Club notifications about events and links to tickets are now going to be emailed to all personal DCC email accounts too.

RETIREMENT FUNCTION

• The 02/2023 recruit class had their CISM family night in November and as always, the DFBSSC are always happy to support the evening with refreshments.

Planning continues for our next retirement function in March. We will have more than 200 guests attending on the evening. We have worked through our list of pre-2023 retirees now and are also able to accommodate some of the 2023 retirees for the next event. The absence of events during COVID-19 has affected how long people have had to wait, but we work through the list in order of retirement date and have nearly caught up on the list. If any retirees want information on the upcoming event, please get in touch with the club secretary.

CLUB COMMUNICATIONS

GIVEAWAYS

Over the past number of years, the club has been trying to improve communications with all our members. This has been achieved with great success by our closed station WhatsApp

The monthly club draws continue with five Press Up Group vouchers up for grabs each month. A bumper draw will have taken place in December for members.

• The DFB GAA team had another successful trip to New York, retaining the Lord Mayor’s Cup against the FDNY in a tight contest.

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SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB UPDATE WE TAKE A LOOK AT RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE DUBLIN FIRE BRIGADE SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB (DFBSSC)

We keep on growing our social media and membership giveaways, and recent ones included premium level tickets to the Aviva to see the Republic of Ireland soccer team, concert tickets to the 3 Arena, and much more. The winners can be seen below.

THANKS Thanks to all the committee members who helped with recent events, including the Family Day and the Family Cinema Day. A lot of hard work goes into keeping the social media pages going, so thanks to Ste Breen for his work on them. Also, to all the contributors who write articles for Firecall.

Secretary, Ger Ryan

MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS July:

R O’toole A9

K Kiernan Skerries

T Roy Skerries

C Parkes D6

S White

D Gueret A4

October:

P Bowe

C2

C Molloy

G Quinn

AHQ

M Ratchford AHQ

August: C Barry

P Marsh

D9

C8

A12

A13

T O’brien B2

T O’ Callaghan Logistics

A Cowley B3

T Keane

November:

C12

K Hearney D3

B Clifford A13

S Carney D3

E Field

AHQ

September:

D Reilly

DHQ

D Somerton D6

M Stone

CHQ

P Daff y

K Markey D13

C9

JOIN IN

If you aren’t on your Station Sports and Social Club WhatsApp group and would like to be, please contact your station rep, or if you aren’t following us on social media, please feel free to do so also.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DubFireBrigade Twitter: https://twitter.com/dubfirebrigade @DubFireBrigade Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dubfirebrigade @dubfirebrigade

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

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Social icon

Circle Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

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QUIZ

QUIZ Test Your Knowledge of This Issue of FIRECALL 1. In total, how many recruits graduated from Class 1/2023 this year?

2. Where was the World Rescue Challenge held this year?

3. By how many points did the DFB GAA Team beat the FDNY GAA Team in October?

4. Which Dublin distillery provided the whiskeys for the 1875 Club’s special tasting at the Mansion House?

5. From what part of Spain did a team come to take part in the inaugural Rope Rescue Workshop hosted by DFB at the Training Centre?

6. What was the number of the bus that caught fire on Aston Quay in August 1967?

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7. Which movie was the more popular choice for families at the Cinema Day at the Savoy?

8. Which UK region’s ambulance service has introduced the first mental health paramedics in England this year?

9. Where did the Retired Members Association visit for a four-day stay in October?

10. What is the name of the Irish actor who portrays the murderer Ben Fields in the BBC’s The Sixth Commandment?

Send your answers to adam.hyland@ashvillemediagroup.com to be in with a chance of winning a €50 Press Up Group voucher.

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

29/11/2023 12:42

DFB IN BRIEF

DFB IN BRIEF A recap of Dublin Fire Brigade’s news and events over the last few months

BELOW:: Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley joined Noel, Eimear and Paul from HQ staff BELOW for the Together Hospice Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social in September.

ABOVE:: FF/P Maria Patridge was joined by colleagues, family and friends as she ABOVE completed her last turnout in Swords fire station after 23 years of service, becoming BELOW:: Dun Laoghaire firefighters respond to the first female DFB member to retire. BELOW an engine compartment fire on board a bus in November.

ABOVE:: Father and son duo, S/O & F/F ABOVE O’Flaherty at the family fun day in Naomh Fionnbarra GAA with their colleagues from Fire Prevention & Phibsboro Fire Station in August.

ABOVE:: FF/P Sean Leonard ABOVE presents the poem ‘The Firefighter’s Call’ by FF/P Ger Devine to Captain Terry Holland of No.10 Station, FDNY, on the DFB GAA team’s trip to BELOW:: New York in October. BELOW Class 1 / 2023 taking care of business at their Graduate Pass Out display in September.

LEFT:: Two of our turntable LEFT ladders meeting during daily checks in our headquarters in RIGHT:: We said farewell August. RIGHT to FF/P Andy Campbell in August as he retired from Swords fire station after 35 years of service.

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DFB IN BRIEF

BELOW: Decontamination procedures and drill for C Watch HQ in November. RIGHT BELOW: RIGHT:: In October we said farewell to Dave Woods at the Training Centre as he leaves DFB after a long career, and we look forward to hearing about the next chapter.

BELOW:: A great day was had by all at the BELOW Phibsboro Fire Station Frontline MoBros Open Day on 19 November.

BELOW:: Firefighters from Tallaght gaining entry BELOW to a commercial premises in October using a consaw before they and crews Dolphin’s Barn extinguished the fire.

ABOVE:: Firefighters from Kilbarrack respond as a tree ABOVE falls onto two cars and downs cables during Storm RIGHT:: Firefighters from North Agnes in September. RIGHT Strand respond to a coach on fire in November.

BELOW:: The family of Senior Sub Officer and mentor BELOW Jim O’Neill joined him in August as he finished his last shift with D Watch after 41 years of service.

BELOW:: Firefighters from Swords, Kilbarrack BELOW and Skerries were called to a well-developed fire involving mobile homes in North County Dublin in October.

ABOVE:: Firefighters from Tallaght fire ABOVE station responded to a house fire in November and were able to rescue family pets and bring them to safety.

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DFB IN BRIEF

LEFT: Firefighters from Phibsboro hopped straight in and brought a bunny to safety after a house fire in August.

RIGHT:: Coming to the RIGHT rescue of nine people from a building on fire off Francis Street in August.

LEFT: The DFB Pipe Band play City Hall as part of Culture Night 2023 in September.

BELOW:: A Watch BELOW Dolphins Barn attending a site visit of the National Children’s Hospital in October as part of pre-fire planning.

BELOW:: C Watch Alpha District took part in a BELOW joint exercise with the National Rehabilitation BELOW:: Hospital in Dún Laoghaire in November. BELOW Some great training with the 42m turntable ladder at Dublin Port, with Assistant Harbour Master Paul Hogan and the Stena Astrid facilitating the exercise.

ABOVE:: Firefighters from Donnybrook were called ABOVE to reports of smoke in a premises in November, using thermal imaging to locate the source and make the scene safe. BELOW Pauline Ryan, who suffered a cardiac arrest outside Finglas fire station this year, and Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste unveil one of 14 Public Access Defibrillators in October.

ABOVE:: Family, friends and colleagues ABOVE gathered to give Station Officer Brian Gunning a great send-off as he finishes his DFB career after 25 years of service in July.

LEFT: Firefighter Cian Naughton after one of his first fire calls in November.

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DFB IN BRIEF BELOW:: Our fire prevention department visited BELOW the RCSI as part of Fire Safety Week in October.

ABOVE:: Sub Officer Aidan Smith was joined by colleagues, friends and ABOVE family as he retired from Balbriggan fire station after 29 years of service BELOW:: Sub Officer Finbarr Lambert was joined by family, in August. BELOW friends and colleagues at Dun Laoghaire fire station on his last shift before retirement after more than 31 years of service in September.

ABOVE:: FF/P Bryan was treated to ABOVE a birthday cake by his colleagues at Kilbarrack fire station in September.

BELOW:: Helping Fingal Mayor Adrian BELOW Henchy don a BA set in October.

ABOVE:: Well done to Sub-Officer ABOVE Jonathan Forbes and FF/P Karl Wilson who joined up with NIFRS Watch Commander Al Murdoch to run the Dublin City Marathon in full PPE in aid of the Movember and Pips charities.

BELOW:: A firefighter from B Watch BELOW Phibsboro walks into the fog and smoke after a pallet fire at the end of October.

ABOVE:: A small birthday celebration ABOVE in Tallaght fire station in August for Firefighter/Advanced Paramedic Derek Riordan, aged 21 years + VAT. LEFT: DFB Pipe Band Piper Seamie O’Rourke and D/O John McNally joined colleagues from Dublin Airport Fire and Rescue and elected representatives for the annual 9/11 memorial mass in RIGHT:: Damping down the September. RIGHT fire at the JFK Industrial Estate that involved five appliances in September.

@dubfirebrigade

LEFT:: We were LEFT saddened to hear of the passing in September of former Chief Fire Officer Hugh O’Neill, who led the brigade from 2004 to 2012.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DubFireBrigade Twitter: https://twitter.com/dubfirebrigade @DubFireBrigade Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dubfirebrigade @dubfirebrigade

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FIRECALL WINTER 2023

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EXTRICATION TEAM

CLASS 1/2023

OUR LATEST DFB MEMBERS

Class 1/2023

Following intensive training, Class 1/2023 graduated in a ceremony in September, writes Course Director Troy Taylor

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CLASS 1/2023

Dean Rogers receives the Silver Axe award

O

n Wednesday, 20 September, the latest group of recruits began their careers with Dublin Fire Brigade as Class 1/2023 celebrated their pass out at a ceremony at the Training Centre.

A total of 43 recruits began 17 weeks of intense training at the Training Centre on 29 May, with 37 of those entering Dublin Fire Brigade, an additional five from Co Louth Fire and Rescue Service, and one from Waterford Fire Service.

Following four weeks of basic training that included ladders, hose, suction and foam drills, the recruits were broken up from their original syndicates and began their specials fire training, with disciplines such as BA, RTC, Hazardous Materials, Tall and Complex, Swift Water Rescue and practical firefighting, to mention a few.

After the specials, the recruits returned to their original syndicates and began prep work for the pass out.

During the entire course, the class practiced marching every morning from 08.30am, and this helped immensely with the pass out display.

CEREMONY When the day came, the theme of the pass out was Elvis Presley. This began as an internal joke, but as we delved into it more, it became apparent that the music

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accompanying the pass out would really add to the experience overall.

It all started at 1pm with the DFB Pipe Band opening the ceremony. Following this the recruits started their pass out with a Marching Parade orchestrated

by S/O Ray Martin. Marching is fundamental for any recruit class as it teaches them team work, discipline and organisation. It really brings the class together and ensures pride in the organisation and the uniform.

CFO Dennis Keeley gave a speech welcoming the new recruits to Dublin Fire Brigade, including those from Louth and Waterford, giving them some advice and support in their chosen careers. This was followed by a speech by Councillor Keith Connolly standing in for the Lord Mayor. Finally, FF/P Gerard Devine passionately read a poem he wrote for this occasion, but one that can transfer to any fire service anywhere in the world.

SKILLS DISPLAY Following this, Elvis came into the Training Centre and got stuck in the Heartbreak Hotel. This required him to be rescued alongside some hotel staff by the recruits using a combination of 13.5 m, 10.5m ladders and an Aerial Appliance. Elvis himself was placed in a sked stretcher and lowered in a guiding line.

Once Elvis was rescued, he again

Class 1/2023 members celebrate their pass out

appeared, alongside his sidekick Anto.

Between the two of them they got into more trouble, causing a road Traffic Accident which again required the Class of 1/2023 to rescue him. The recruits demonstrated their RTC skills on three cars in total, lifting one to get his guitar, removing the doors on another, and finally doing a roof fold down thereby rescuing Elvis.

The last display involved the Hearbreak Hotel catching fire due to

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

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CLASS 1/2023

Working on a multi-vehicle RTC

Elvis had to be rescued from a vehicle as part of the skills display

some dodgy electrical wiring by Elvis and his amplifier while performing on stage. Elvis got himself trapped in the hotel again and once again the Recruit class had to rescue him using BA and hoses to extinguish the fire. All this excitement then led to Elvis having an MI, but he was revived by paramedics to the joy of the audience, although he was “all shook up”.

PRESENTATIONS Class 1/2023 finally presented themselves in front of the audience alongside the appliances and the TTL which held their class banner overhead. Speeches followed and the Silver Axe nominee was announced. The Silver Axe went to R/F/F Dean Rogers. This seemed to be a very popular choice amongst his peers.

Afterwards tea and refreshments were had in the chapel with families, friends and DFB Staff present.

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TRAINING TEAM: Course Director: A/D/O Troy Taylor Asst Course Director: A/D/O David Duke Syndicate Officer: S/O Ray Martin Syndicate Officer: S/O Niall Murray (Louth Fire Service) Syndicate Officer: A/S/O Gavin Hoey

Syndicate Officer: A/S/O Alan Walsh Syndicate Officer: A/S/O Thomas Keegan Syndicate Officer: A/S/O Michael Ratchford Syndicate Officer: A/S/O David O’Connor Syndicate Officer: A/S/O Donal Maguire G/Os: A/S/Off Alan Murphy, A/S/Off Aaron Maloney, A/S/Off Emma Wilson

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DFB PIPE BAND

BELOW: Solo DFBPB piper Mark Toner playing at the end of the DFB deceased members mass.

RIGHT: With the silverware at the Dublin GAA reception. BOTTOM RIGHT: Celebrating victory with Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste.

FROM WITHIN

THE CIRCLE It’s been a busy few months for the DFB Pipe Band, writes Secretary John McNally

S

ince our last article, we have had a busy summer with many gigs and events.

On 31 July, we led the Dublin Senior Men’s All Ireland Football champions into the Mansion House for a reception with Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste. Later that

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evening, three pipers led the team into the clubhouse at Ballymun Kickhams for a further reception.

On 14 August, we then led the Dublin Ladies All Ireland Football Champions into the Mansion House for another reception with the Lord Mayor.

EVENTS The 26th of August saw the Band march and perform at the Killester Garden Village Centenary Community Day to celebrate the centenary of the housing of Irish World War One exservicemen and their families.

The Band also took part in the National Services Day parade on 2 September, finishing at Dublin Castle.

Annually, the Band perform at Culture Night and this year was no exception. On 22 September the Band again took part in Culture Night and played at City Hall for a large crowd in the rotunda in what was a memorable night for all.

PASS OUTS Recruit Class 1/2023 passed out on Wednesday, 20 September, and as usual, the Band performed for the

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DFB PIPE BAND

Playing at the Killester Garden Village Centenary Community Day

The Band arriving at Dublin Castle at the end of the National Services Day parade.

recruits, invited guests and families, both before and after the footdrill display and during the inspection.

On 15 November Recruit Class 2/2023 had their family CISM information night at the Training Centre. As in recent years, the Band were delighted to perform at the closing of the night. We would like to wish all of recruit class 2/2023 the very best with the rest of their recruit training and we will see you at the pass out!

Leading the way for the Dublin Senior Men’s and Ladies’ Football All Ireland Winners receptions at the Mansion House

“

THE BAND AGAIN TOOK PART IN CULTURE NIGHT AND PLAYED AT CITY HALL FOR A LARGE CROWD IN THE ROTUNDA IN WHAT WAS A MEMORABLE NIGHT FOR ALL”

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The Band performing at the pass out of recruit class 1/2023

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DFB PIPE BAND

Playing at the Killester Garden Village Centenary Community Day 2.

“

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE OUTGOING COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HARD WORK OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS”

PIPERS We provided solo pipers for many various events, including the funerals of DFB family members.

We also provided a piper for the funeral of Retired Chief Fire Officer Hugh O’Neill, RIP. Mr O’Neill was a great friend and supporter of the DFB Pipe Band. Our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

On 26 November, we also provided a solo piper for the annual mass for deceased DFB members.

Our AGM was held in December and the executive committee would like to thank the outgoing committee for their hard work over the last 12 months.

We have a number of gigs and events coming up over the next few months and we will report back in the next issue of Firecall.

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NEW MEMBERS

Finally, as always, we are looking for new members. It has been great to see our new students continue to come down to practice over recent months to both the pipe and drum corps. We are always here to welcome new members to the band as new blood is vital to ensure that the band survives into the future. If you would like to give the band a try, why not come along to the Training Centre any Monday night from 7.30pm and learn a new instrument? Beginners are always very welcome and musical ability is not a requirement at all. We would also like to welcome previous members back, as well as people who may already have piping or drumming experience. You will be given top class instruction by our two world-class instructors Dave Rickard (Bagpipes) and Ciaran Mordaunt (Drums).

The band can be reached at any time through any band member, social media or by emailing: dfbpbsec@gmail.com

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INSURING

IRELAND At IPB Insurance, we are proud to be Ireland’s only indigenous mutual insurer, protecting our Local Authority and ETB Members.

From the Cliffs of Moher to the Spire in Dublin, we have been protecting our Members and their communities nationwide for over 95 years.

working to make a difference | www.ipb.ie IPB Insurance CLG, trading as IPB Insurance, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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For business in the UK, IPB Insurance is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority.

01/12/2023 22/11/2023 10:17 16:31

FOOTBALL

GOOD RESULT, GREAT CAUSE

The DFB team with the Little Blue Heroes banner

Aidan O’Sullivan talks to Adam Hyland about taking on the Gardaí in a recent charity match

F

resh from their recent win against Firesport UK, the DFB Soccer team was back in action on 8 September as they took on a Garda team in a charity challenge match at the ALSAA Sports Grounds.

An Garda Síochána were looking to organise a fundraiser for their excellent Little Blue Heroes charity, and representatives from their soccer team got in touch with Dublin Fire Brigade to see if they’d be interested in being their opponents in the friendly match.

“One of the gardaí knew someone in DFB and was following our results on social media, they knew we’d just played Firesport UK, so they knew we had a team ready and waiting,” team manager Aidan O’Sullivan of A Watch Phibsboro tells me. “FF/P Quintin Moran was heavily involved on our side in organising the match too, so thanks must go to him.”

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CHARITY While DFB ran out 4-2 winners, with stand-out performances from Dean Tilley and Sean Molloy, Aidan says that the game’s real focus was the charity.

“It was very much a friendly, with the emphasis on raising money for Little Blue Heroes,” he says. “We did have a strong enough team out, but we were really only looking at having the craic and enjoying the game. It wouldn’t have been very competitive at all.”

As well as the football on show, there was entertainment and food for the crowd that helped to turn the event into a familyfriendly day.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY “The S/O on D Watch Swords, Tom McLoughlin, organised the DFB photographer, and he brought his crew up in their fire engine so the children there could have a go of the hose and see the appliance, and because some of

the children and families who avail of the Little Blue Heroes service were there, the gardaí had their Dog Unit and a Mounted Unit member there, so it was very familyoriented, with refreshments on hand on what was a beautifully sunny day.”

Overall, the event raised more than €6,500 for the Garda-led charity, which Aidan and the team are proud to have played a part in.

“It was great to have been involved,” he says. “We got word back that the charity had new applications in, and that the money raised was immediately being used to help children and their families, so it was great to hear that they were able to grant aid so soon.”

PLANS Plans are in place to have another, more competitive match against An Garda in the coming months, with a game against the Defence Forces also on the cards, but the plans are very much focused on the Emergency Services Tournament taking place in 2024, which Aidan says is “basically the European Championships for Fire Brigades”. Something for all football fans to look forward to.

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FOOTBALL

The Garda and DFB Soccer teams

Some Little Blue Heroes were there to enjoy the game and see the fire engine from Swords

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The game was played on a beautiful day in September

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EXTRICATION TEAM

EXTRICATION TEAM

BRINGING HOME NEW SKILLSETS The Incident Commander oversees the extrication

The DFB Extrication Team’s Participation in the World Rescue Challenge Helps Develop Essential Skillsets, writes FF/P Stephen Bonfil

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W

ith the recent increase in road accidents and road deaths in Ireland, it’s only right that DFB train and learn more, to be in possession of the best available equipment in the best hands. Our Dublin firefighters are intensifying their training efforts to ensure better preparedness.

District Officer Declan Rice, based at HQ, believes that, although our Dublin Firefighter/Paramedics already provide a very high standard of immediate care at road traffic collisions, there’s always room for improvement.

RTCS When you look at the numbers for the last few years, it makes for uncomfortable reading. By the end of October 2019, there had been 112 people killed on our roads, but in 2022 that rose to 121, and this year there have already been 155 at the time of writing.

The world around us is constantly changing, and so too are the types of road traffic incidents we encounter.

What have been the impacts of active travel, an aging population, introduction of new automatic electric vehicles, fast moving e-bikes and

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EXTRICATION TEAM

The DFB World Rescue Challenge Team in Lanzarote

“

THE WORLD EXTRICATION CHALLENGE BRINGS TOGETHER EMERGENCY PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE, IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS IN EFFECTIVE POST-CRASH INTERVENTION”

e-scooters, narrower roadways, and more one-way streets? Do these changes really make things safer, or is our environment actually making it more challenging to save the lives of our citizens when called upon? Our equipment, training and actions must adapt to this ever-changing environment.

In 2022, DFB had 2,230 mobilisations to RTC incidents. This accounts for 16.5% of all fire appliance activity. Over the past number of years, there has been a slow move away from the “don’t move the neck, take the roof off ” approach, to a more holistic patient-focused extrication.

This is something our Fire-EMS service has embraced and continually moves to give the best international standard of care. No longer do we request our APs on scene for a spinal rule-out, as all our Paramedics now adopt the spinal rule-in approach.

Over the past five years there has also been a steady move to battery operated hydraulic tools, and more use of small tools such as ratchet straps, impact drivers and powerful reciprocating saws with stronger blades.

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Representing DFB, Dublin and Ireland

COLLABORATIONS A lot of this work has been initiated through collaborations with external agencies such as An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and Rescue Organisation Ireland. Our National RTC and HGV instructors have been working with different counties to establish national SOGs. An internal team has also been established to assess the impact of vehicles using alternative fuels. Most recently, DFB is developing change from the ground up by having our firefighters competing on the international stage and informing us of international best practice. In October, the DFB Extrication Team travelled to Spain for the World Rescue Challenge to do just that.

CHALLENGE DFB started competing in the National RTC Challenge in 2008.

Earlier this year, after competing against extrication teams from across the country, our RTC Extrication Team qualified to represent Ireland in Lanzarote. This is only the second time a DFB team have qualified for the World Rescue Challenge.

The World Extrication Challenge brings together emergency professionals from around the globe, in order to enhance their skills in

The team of Incident Commander, Medics and Technicians

effective post-crash intervention. The Challenge brings lots of travel, fun nights out and the usual firefighter wind-ups, slagging and craic. But fundamentally, what this competition is really about is challenging ourselves, exchanging knowledge with others, and setting best international standards. We are then in a better position to help the citizens of Dublin.

TEAM This year for the challenge, we had a travelling party of ten, from seven stations across Dublin. The competing team itself is designed to replicate a crew from an appliance. Our Incident

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EXTRICATION TEAM

Working on a multi-vehicle RTC

Commander (FF/P Keith Russell) takes charge of the incident and directs the operations. Three RTC Technicians (myself, Liam Caffrey and Dave Lorenzo) are on the tools to make space for the safe and efficient extrication of the injured. Finally, two Team Medics (Eithne Scully and Paul Stanley) assess, prioritise and treat the injured and sometimes trapped patients. New techniques and learnings can now be brought back to their colleagues and help further raise standards throughout DFB.

EVENT The event in Lanzarote was very well run and truly memorable. The opening ceremony was held in an amphitheatre in an old hollowed lava flow tunnel with music, dancing and synchronised swimmers putting on a show in the

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“

DFB IS DEVELOPING CHANGE FROM THE GROUND UP BY HAVING OUR FIREFIGHTERS COMPETING ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE AND INFORMING US OF INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICE”

pool. A Firefighter “swap-night” saw a free bar with nibbles and two huge energetic drums bands that really got the party going, (along with the Pálinka shots from the Romanian team).

The competition side of things occurred over four days, with each international team competing three times. A well-deserved rest day was needed after a “Team Ireland” gathering on the previous night, where DFB were joined by Carlow Fire Service, three Civil Defence teams

and the Rescue Organisation Ireland volunteers. The closing ceremony in the centre of the island brought more traditional music and dance performances, and a splendid meal before the results were revealed.

So how did our team perform? The Medics were placed 4th overall in Tier 3, and the Technical Extrication Team were placed in 5th position in Tier 2. Thus was a very strong performance against 36 international teams from Europe, the United States, South America, Dubai, South

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EXTRICATION TEAM

Working on a difficult extrication

Africa, and many more.

Whilst this World Rescue Challenge is a significant training event, with more than 600 visitors, it also provides a great boost to the local economy and tourism sector.

Rescue Organisation Ireland, who run the Irish National qualifiers, are hoping to be successful in winning their bid for Ireland to host the event in 2028.

SUPPORT D/O Declan Rice tells us that it has become apparent that many individual skillsets are needed to make a successful RTC team. In the months leading up to this challenge, we received great support from across DFB that we are very grateful for. Lots of new members gave up their time to assist with scenario set-up, as forklift operators, scenario assessors and finally knowledgeable patients within the cars requiring to be extricated.

Our DFB RTC team is steadily growing and its members can be regularly seen in the Training Centre training in the RTC compound.

Through their development, they are becoming well-known throughout our organisation, and as subject matter experts at station level.

Assessors look on as the team tackle an RTC extrication

THANKS A word of thanks and acknowledgement must also be given to the CFO, the BTO, ABTO and OBI stores staff for their work in helping facilitate this ongoing training. A huge thanks also to the Logistics Team in Stanley Street for their interest and the new equipment and PPE they source for the team to assess and use.

The RTC Team are always looking for new members, so if you’d like to get involved in 2024, contact any of the current team members for a chat, or keep an eye on their social media page “DFBEXT” on Instagram for further information.

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Removing a patient safely from the vehicle

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COFFEE MORNINGS

DASH TO THE PARK

Coffee mornings in the Phoenix Park for each Watch were a great success this summer, FF/P Stephen O’Neill tells Adam Hyland

“

Over the years, there have been a lot of ideas brought up by our members to have social events in the DFB calendar, but some members wouldn’t really be interested in going to pubs or on nights out,” says FF/P Stephen O’Neill of D Watch Tara Street.

“A few of us got together and were looking to hold a social event for those people, and for people who wanted to have something families could be involved in, maybe something with an outdoors element to it.”

What Stephen and his colleagues came up with encompasses all three of these aspects, with the DASH to the Park coffee mornings that were held throughout August at DASH café in Phoenix Park.

“We put the idea out on some of the WhatsApp groups, and all of the DFBSSC reps in each station mentioned the idea to their crews, and we put posters up in every station, so everyone knew when their Watch could come along,” he tells me.

A morning for each of the Watches, and one for office, garage and logistics staff, was organised so that DFB members could get together and enjoy a free hot drink of their choice and pastry while meeting up with

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colleagues old and new, with families welcome to join them.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY “We got lucky in that each of the days was dry, which was a bonus,” Stephen says. “The location was perfect because it is accessible, and being in the Phoenix Park it gave us that outdoor aspect, and there was even the option for people to go for a run, while we put on a treasure hunt for the children who came along, in which they had to go around looking for items hidden in the proximity of the café, and those who completed it were entered into a raffle for Smyths vouchers.

“There were a good few families and people who brought their dogs, because DASH is also a pet-friendly café, and the turnout was good for most of the Watches – we had about 35 members there for D Watch, and they would have brought family and children - so it was a great success and I hope it will be a permanent fixture in the calendar.

THANKS “I have to say a big thank you to all the staff at DASH Cafe and in particular Martin who was of great help to us and nothing was a problem.

Martin is also an avid cyclist who regularly takes part in the DFB Cycling clubs charity cycle every year. DFBSSC very generously paid for it all, with each person who showed up getting vouchers for a pastry and drink, so nobody had to put their hand in their pocket”, Stephen says.

There was also an emphasis on encouraging retired members to come along.

“We felt it was important to invite retired members along so they could get together for a cup of tea or coffee and have a chinwag,” he tells me, “because during COVID, a lot of recently retired members didn’t get to have a proper function, so it would be good to bring people back into that group and enable them to see all their old colleagues and have a chat. My own father retired earlier this year and he came along for a coffee and a chat, and really enjoyed it, because once they are together, it’s like they never left.”

SUCCESS With such good numbers and a lot of very positive feedback about each Watch day at DASH, Stephen hopes that they will return to the Phoenix Park venue again.

“For its first year it was definitely a success,” he tells me, “and everyone was happy with it. It is just great that we have something where everybody can get involved in a family-friendly environment, be they serving members, their families, retired members and other staff.

“At the moment, the thinking is that we will hold it annually, but if there is demand for it, and if it looks like we could get an even better turnout for each Watch, it could be held biannually, but one thing is for sure, it will definitely be on again next year.”

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COFFEE MORNINGS

Every child who found all the treasure hunt items was entered into a raffle for Smyths vouchers

The treasure hunt kept children entertained

DASH café was a perfect location

IT IS JUST GREAT THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING WHERE EVERYBODY CAN GET INVOLVED IN A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT”

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DFB members and their families could get together over a cup of coffee

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STATION PROFILE D WATCH

DOLPHIN’S BARN

The crew of D Watch Dolphin’s Barn are a tight-knit community, writes Adam Hyland

V

isiting D Watch Dolphin’s Barn at the start of November, there is an immediate impression that there is a strong sense of community and family amongst the crew.

I’m greeted by S/O Justin Burns, who tells me about life at the station. Having joined DFB in 1997, he has been Station Officer here for eight years, over his 16 years as an S/O “stationed almost everywhere”.

“It’s a privilege to serve in any station for

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DFB, but working on D Watch No.2 is not just a privilege but an inspiration,” he tells me. “It is a pleasure to come to work with these people. Although there is a hierarchy, and I’m the S/O, we are very much a community.”

COMMUNITY This sense of community is evident in the surroundings, with the walls covered with photos from past and present, and the monitors displaying old photos on

a loop as part of the archive work being done by crew member and Firecall contributor FF/P Darren Donovan.

“His work gives us a great connection to DFB history,” S/O Burns says. “It’s great when something pops up on the screen that brings back memories of a person or a specific time. It underpins what we do, and reminds us that we stand on the shoulders of giants.”

The mix of youth and experience is something that he says works very well, as does the enthusiasm to learn.

“We have everything here,” he says.

“We got a firefighter from the last batch of recruits, and levels of experience and skills all the way up to our senior man Paddy Carey, who has been here more than 30 years and is part of the furniture. We have a perfect demographic of male and female.

“The atmosphere is brilliant as a result.

The better the mix, the better we work. If we all had the same outlook we would be very bland, but the more perspectives you can get, the better informed you are, the better decisions you make.

“The crew look up to FF/P Carey, but we all look out for and look up to each other because we all have particular skills that make everyone better. My two Sub-Officers, Tony McLean and Noel McDonnell, are also two of the best people in the job, seriously experienced and on top of their game.”

That mix of skillsets is crucial as D Watch cover a vast area and face a wide spectrum of incidents and challenges.

“We specialise in two disciplines: SRT and heavy rescue,” S/O Burns tells me.

“Our emergency tender is kitted out to deal with heavy goods vehicles incidents.

In this District, we cover an area of 225 square kilometres and a population in excess of 300,000 people. We have the M50 and two major arterial routes in the N4 and N7, we have the Luas, the heavy rail system, the Liffey, the Dodder, the Poddle, reservoirs, a massive area to cover and massive risks within it.

“Through our own hazard analysis we train for all of this and adapt. Any new risk or hazard we identify, we focus our training towards that. We are constantly

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STATION PROFILE

Members of D Watch No.2: S/Off Tony McLean, Neal Dempsey, Sean Foley, S/O Justin Burns, Aiden Goldrick, Colm Heavey, Stephen Bonfil

developing techniques and always looking to the future.

INNOVATION “I joke about D Watch No.2 being the Research and Development department of DFB, because my crew are always looking at the next challenge, looking for new and better solutions, and I’m very open to whatever they come to me with.

“We have developed a number of tools that obviously have to go through Health and Safety, but we’ve adapted tools and techniques for extrication, for entry, forceable entry, new innovations.

We try them out here at the station or at nearby sites. I always say that it is not my job to come up with all the ideas, it’s my job to make the best decisions based on the ideas my crew comes up with, and they make that very easy.”

S/O Burns is eager to emphasise the skillsets of his crew, and we are joined

by Neal Dempsey, who he tells me is the “resident PT Instructor at the station”.

He is here six years after seven at HQ and a year and a half in Donnybrook.

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“In 2012, one of my officers at HQ facilitated for me to take all my leave together and do a PT course that could work in tandem with training the crew at the station,” FF/P Dempsey says.

“I have been unofficially training on station since 2013. Colleagues come to you looking for help with fitness or strength, because it is obviously beneficial to the job.”

Having worked on crew fitness, FF/P Dempsey also worked as a PT on RTÉ’s Operation Transformation, but his focus has always been on helping maintain fitness at station level.

“Every year we set ourselves new goals to hit – strength, running, rowing - and it creates friendly competition and a bit of craic,” he tells me. “It keeps everyone tied in, and makes us a very close Watch.”

FF/P Dempsey’s connection with Dolphin’s Barn station is very strong, and he too appreciates the ties to the past.

“I like what this station represents, it’s an SRT station, which is something

“

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT KIND OF INCIDENT YOU ARE GOING TO, THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE TEAM WHO KNOWS WHAT THE BEST THING TO DO IS”

I am very interested in, but I really wanted to come here because my brother was a firefighter here, and my father was here too. My brother passed away in 2003 and that triggered the building of the Garden of Remembrance we have that commemorates all fallen colleagues. It is kind of sacred, very chilled out.

“It is great to have ties to the past, and here we have a hallway that has pictures of members who have passed away, who served in the station, and it

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STATION PROFILE

“

IT IS GOOD TO EMBRACE WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE MINUTE AND TO PUSH ON TO THE FUTURE, BUT IT IS ALSO GOOD TO REMEMBER THE HERITAGE OF THE FIRE BRIGADE”

Station Officer Justin Burns

is a good reminder, especially for some of the new members who hear us talking about past members, they can put a face to the name. It is good to embrace what is going on at the minute and to push on to the future, but it is also good to remember the heritage of the fire brigade.”

He too is keen to emphasise the community atmosphere of the Watch and station.

“I think we are a very family-oriented crew. We are coming up to Christmas, and we transform the station into a full Santa’s Grotto, bring in the families. The station itself is a community. We are intertwined with each other’s families, we go on nights out together, go to each other’s weddings, so it is very tight-knit.

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There is an ongoing joke that whereas other Watches at other stations see their crews as work colleagues, we see each other as mates.

“With the crew we have, there is massive experience at different levels, people who have trade backgrounds, people who are eminently smart, people who are very good at hands-on stuff, people who are very good at taking a step back and finding solutions. The fact that we are all mates means we all know who we can ask for the best input.”

SKILLSETS FF/P Sean Foley, who has been here since 2016 after serving for two and a half years in the Control Room, joins us next, and when asked about skillsets, he tells

me he has done the SRT course and has a driving course coming up, but he also has a keen interest in BA and was on the recent Tall and Complex course, which he says is “going to be a major thing going forward, especially in this area”.

As an electrician, he brings a specific skillset to the crew that S/O Burns says is extremely helpful.

“For the likes of me coming to a scene, to have someone with that expertise that I can tap into right away is invaluable,” he says.

“Rather than having to wait for ESB to give me tactical advice, I can ask Sean for his opinion and we can step in immediately, so it is a massive advantage to have people like him here.

“One of the fortunate things about this station is that we have every possible hazard or risk in this area, so we have to train for every eventuality. Developing skills for a particular risk or hazard also benefits others because the skills are transferrable.”

Sean feels that he too can turn to his colleagues who he is confident have expertise in other areas.

“The things senior members show you mean that on the job you are learning little tricks and tips and tools that get the job done better. It’s on the ground experience you can’t buy. I’m learning from people who are here longer than me, and when they move on, I’ll be passing that down to the people coming behind me.”

EXPERTISE FF/P Stephen Bonfil, who has just returned from the World Rescue Challenge in

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STATION PROFILE

Lanzarote, joins us next. Joining in 2006, he spent a year in Kilbarrack and five in HQ before arriving at Dolphin’s Barn.

As a mechanic, he is part of the Rescue Organisation Ireland team, and he too brings valuable practical expertise and experience to the crew.

“I am a diesel mechanic by trade so I know about vehicles, what tools to select, how to go about an extrication,” he tells me, “but when you look around at the personnel on this Watch, we have electricians, builders, mechanics, people with technical backgrounds, so it doesn’t matter what kind of incident you are going to, there is someone on the team who knows what the best thing to do is.

“As an example, two years ago we went on the ET to an industrial fire in a kitchen of a sports club. The fire was in the wall behind the kitchen units. There was no way the hydraulic gear would have reached it, but we had the battery powered spreader with us on the ET,

and we figured we could use what is traditionally a RTA tool and adapt and use it within the premises to peel the steel lining off the wall and tackle the fire.

“You can see what the actual task is, and think about the tools you can bring to successfully deal with it. These new ideas and solutions then start to become the norm, because other crews remember it and deal with it in the same way. It’s getting a lot more use out of our tools and bringing ideas to other people who bring it back to their station, so it is a nice roll on of information.

S/O Burns laughs: “Effectively we are like bacteria – you come into contact with us and you are leaving with having learned something!”

TRUST “We have everything here all the time.

And we have the perfect crew to handle

that,” FF/P Bonfil adds. “The crew, as in every fire station, changes as people move on, but the work always gets done in a timely fashion and with successful outcomes, and that shows the level of trust the officers have in us, but also the levels of communication within the crew. New recruits coming in are immediately into it, you can look to senior people for advice and best approaches, like a mentorship.”

S/O Burns agrees: “Within our crew everybody is a mentor. It doesn’t matter if you are just in the job, if you have expertise you will be listened to, and that instils confidence, to know the team are acting upon it with a high level of trust.

“For me, the best part of working with this crew is their enthusiasm for the job. They are champing at the bit to get to work. They are always looking for the next thing to do, and they are all really good at it!”

D WATCH DOLPHIN’S BARN D/O Thomas Doolan S/O Justin Burns S/Off Tony McLean S/Off Noel McDonnell FF/P Patrick Carey FF/P Gordon Lambert FF/P Philip Stanley FF/AP Eithne Scully FF/P Darren Donovan FF/P Aidan Goldrick FF/P Marc Fitzharris FF/P Stephen Bonfil FF/P Neal Dempsey FF/P Stephen O’Reilly FF/P David O’Reilly FF/P Sean Foley FF/P Brian Carrick FF/P Joseph Fallon FF/P Colm Heavey Memorabilia and memories adorn the station

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FAMILY FUN DAY

FAMILY

FUN The Summer Fun Day made a welcome return this year

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FAMILY FUN DAY

T

he annual Summer Family Fun Day was back this year with a bang.

After last year’s event was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather, the DFBSSC were eager to pull out all the stops to make this a day to remember, and there were no concerns about rain this time around as we enjoyed beautiful sunshine in which to come together for a day of fun, great food and entertainment.

The Family Fun Day has become easily the biggest event of the year, and it was great to see so many families come along to enjoy the day, with thrilling rides and games, a magic show, reptile show, bouncy castles, face painting and a DJ on hand to entertain the crowds.

The Lazer tag proved the most popular attraction on the day and the train ride was enjoyed by young and not so young. Big thanks also to DUBCO and in particular Paul O’Grady who provided a prize giveaway on the day. Hugs@ home were also in attendance, a relationship that DFBSSC will continue into the future.

Terrific food was supplied by Firehouse Pizza and Justanother.ie, while the ice cream van helped keep everyone cool on such a hot day.

Thanks must go to everybody involved in organising this event, and all who helped on the day to make it so memorable.

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FAMILY FUN DAY

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01/12/2023 10:22

GAA

Sampling the Big Apple

A GREAT EXPERIENCE The DFB GAA Team Made a Victorious Trip to New York in October

T

he DFB’s long-held sporting relationship with FDNY continued in October with the traditional match between the two Brigade’s GAA teams. This year, it was the turn of the DFB side to travel to New York to take on their counterparts from the States in what was a memorable trip.

“There were 39 of us in total, so it was a big group,” S/O B Watch North Strand Alan Moore says, “and we had 27 first-timers, so there was a great mix of people young and old, and from different ranks. We also had Tadgh Fallon with us, the original person involved in setting this event up with FDNY Battalion Chief Eddie Boles after 9/11.”

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ARRIVAL Arriving at lunchtime on Friday, 6 October, the DFB team were met by the FDNY and brough to their hotel before being taken to a bar for finger food and a few welcome drinks. After that, the group had the night to themselves to explore the Big Apple, but on Saturday the matter of the friendly rivalry was to be settled on the pitch.

After watching Ireland beat Scotland at the Rugby World Cup, the group was brought to Gaelic Park, the home of New York GAA, for the all-important game.

MATCH “It was a good, physical game,” S/O Moore says, “and I wouldn’t say we played our best.

They are very fit and never give up, but we got over the line with a close-fought win.”

The spirit in which the game was played, he says, was fantastic.

“The whole set up was brilliant,” he says.

“On our team, there were some members who would never have had the chance to play at Gaelic Park, and probably never will again, so it was a great experience for them. Down through the years, the likes of Jack O’Shea and Brian Mullins would have played on this pitch, so there is good heritage there, a lot of inter-county players have gone there, so it was a great experience, particularly for those who were there for the first time.”

Presentations were made after the match to Man of the Match, DFB’s Craig Reilly, as well as to the DFB management team of Mark and Ciaran Wilson, Alan Moore and Tadhg Fallon, and there were a few nice touches, such as goodie bags for every player with a replica jersey featuring the number they wore during the game.

“After the match, we went to Downey’s

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GAA

Great craic was had

to Ten House station right beside the World Trade Center Memorial where a framed copy of a stirring poem by Ger Devine was presented to the crew, and one to Eddie Boles.

“It’s a great poem that hits all the right notes, and it was well appreciated,” S/O Moore says.

GOLF

Taking part in the Nolan Rogers Cup

For the first time, a golf match between DFB and FDNY was also organised for the Monday as a sort of Ryder Cup for firefighters.

“The members who first played in 2002 are getting on now, like myself – that was probably the last time I will be playing – so we had this game organised in Bluehill Golf Course in Rocklands for the older members,” says S/O Moore.

“We lost that unfortunately, but you can’t win them all. We are calling it the Nolan Rogers Cup after Billy Nolan, who was one of the founders of this trip from the New York side, and who isn’t well at the moment, and now deceased DFB D/O Paddy Rogers, so it is nice to have that connection to where it all began, and good to have an extra thing for people to be involved in.”

EXPERIENCE

Sean Leonard presents the poem ‘The Firefighter’s Call’ by Ger Devine to Captain Terry Holland of No.10 Station, FDNY

Bar in the Bronx, where they had food ready for us, and a few drinks,” says S/O Moore, “and we had a huge sing-song led by Stephen Murtagh and Ethan Walsh that went on for hours, so it was a really good night.”

VISITS A trip to the World Trade Center Museum came on the Sunday, with the DFB group brought straight in for a tour, followed by food at O’Hara’s Bar. “We had the rest of the day to ourselves and we spent it as a group, so it was great craic,” S/O Moore adds.

On the Monday, Sean Leonard led a visit

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Feedback from the trip has been extremely positive, and S/O Moore is full of praise for the FDNY team.

“They were amazing hosts,” he says, “and it is a fantastic trip, a great experience, because you’re seeing New York in a different way, not from a tourist point of view but seeing the real ins and outs you wouldn’t normally see. We were really well looked after and it was just a brilliant trip, and we can’t thank FDNY’s Eddie Boles and Barry Annett enough for their hospitality.”

S/O Moore is keen to thank all those who made the trip possible, including DFBSSC, DUBCO, Cornmarket, DCC, Dublin County Board, and Maureen at M Delmar Travel, who “was brilliant help in organising flights and accommodation”.

He is also keen to mention that anybody interested in playing for the DFB GAA team can contact him at North Strand, or Dean Kelly.

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GAA The FDNY GAA team

DFB HOLDS STEADY TO CLINCH NAIL-BITING VICTORY In a match that saw both teams struggle to find their footing, DFB’s experience ultimately saw them through, writes Niall Brady

0-7

FDNY

1-7 DFB

The DFB and FDNY teams just after the match

DUBLIN FIRE BRIGADE: Craig Reilly (0-4), Dave Reilly, Graham Forde, Sean Leonard, Neil Billings (1-1), Conor Carberry, Craig Wilson (0-1), Adam McNally, Geoff Treacy, Ethan Walsh, Dean Kelly, Peter Hunt (0-1), Martin Hunt, Paul O’Riordan (Captain), Darren Whelan. Subs: Alan Moore, Darren Quigley, Dave Timlin, Mick Carton, Alec Griffin, Troy Tilley, David Vaugh, Stephen Murtagh, Robert Fox. Managers: Mark Wilson, Ciaran Wilson NEW YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT: Matt Schumacher, Pat Heffernan, Joe Murphy, Kieran O’Neill, Luke Kelly, Mike Wickes, Kevin Neville, Kieran Moran, Francis Cole (0-3), Billy Donohue, Shane Slattery (0-4), Conor Hogan, Tom Fennell, James Mullen, Derek Courtney. Subs: Tommy Enright, Mark O’Brien, Aiden O’Brien, Ryan O’Neill. Manager: Barry Annette MAN OF THE MATCH: Craig Reilly (Dublin Fire Brigade)

In a match steeped in tradition and honour, the Dublin Fire Brigade edged out the New York Fire Department in a contest that was as emotionally charged as it was competitive.

The annual fixture, born out of remembrance of the tragic events of 9/11, serves not only as a sporting event but as a symbol of international camaraderie and resilience.

This year’s match at New York’s Gaelic Park - a venue often equated with Croke Park for its significance to the wider world of the GAA - was particularly poignant, as it marked the return of the event after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stirring national anthems set the tone for the atmosphere, with the crowd a mix of firefighters, families, and local Gaelic enthusiasts, all eager to see who would take home the perpetual trophy.

The first 15 minutes were tense, both teams

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REFEREE: Ciaran Lee

failing to get on the scoreboard, and DFB’s Sean Leonard and Craig Wilson making their presence felt. Leonard made a number of crucial tackles that stopped FDNY in their tracks, while Wilson controlled the left side of the pitch.

FDNY broke the deadlock with two quick points, but DFB soon found their rhythm, levelling the scores. DFB’s half-back line kept them in the game, forcing errors from the FDNY and creating scoring opportunities.

The Dublin midfield also played a pivotal role, winning most of the breaking balls and setting up attacks.

The second half saw a rejuvenated DFB side, with goalkeeper Craig Reilly’s kickouts powerful and pinpoint, and his saves crucial, as he also added valuable scores from frees.

His performance would later earn him the Man of the Match title, the third Trinity Gaels player in a row to win the honour.

Neil Billings’ goal was the turning point for DFB, giving them the lead and the confidence to control the game. FDNY fought back valiantly but couldn’t capitalise on their chances.

As the clock ticked down, FDNY had one last chance to level the score, but their final free sailed wide, sealing a hard-fought victory for DFB. At the final whistle, there were handshakes, hugs, and smiles all around, with the sense of mutual respect and sportsmanship palpable, encapsulating the spirit of this annual fixture.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “There’s great pride in winning this because we have some members of the original team when we came over here first that have since passed away. Robbie Kane and Aidan O’Grady would be two of those stars, so we want to win it for them” - DFB Manager Mark Wilson.

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SPORTIVE The event is going from strength to strength

DFBCC SPORTIVE GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The annual Staying in the Saddle for Prostate Cancer fundraiser was a huge success, writes Brendan Lodola

D

ublin Fire Brigade Cycling Club was delighted to stage its fourth Staying in the Saddle for Prostate Cancer event on Saturday, 14 October. The focus continues to be raising awareness and encouraging open discussion around prostate cancer, in addition to raising vital funding for the Rapid Access Prostate Clinic at Beaumont Hospital.

Early detection is critical to a successful outcome, so we are very proud to support this worthy cause. Funding raised at previous events enabled the provision of additional equipment to support detection, so we are grateful for the growing participation in this event.

TRIBUTE As a club, we wanted to pay tribute at the

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000_FC Winter 2023_Cycling_V3.indd 41

from DFB management attended in honour of the occasion.

NEW GEAR start of the event to one of our greatest supporters, Inspector Brian Cullen, who passed away this year. Brian was a fantastic man and a brother of Andy Cullen of B watch No.4. He enthusiastically jumped on board without any hesitation and organised a group of colleagues from AGS to escort the cyclists for the first critical 20km. And what a job they did, thanks guys! Our thoughts and prayers are with Brian’s family and friends.

2023 is a very important year in the history of Dublin Fire Brigade as it marks 125 years of the provision of its ambulance service. As a club we were delighted to reflect this remarkable anniversary by increasing the usual longer event route to 125km. Participants embraced the increase and additional preparations were put in place to enable its success. Representatives

Our club took the opportunity to launch its new cycling club gear, designed with a more contemporary look, which has been well received. Each member received a club jersey as part of their 2023 membership pack.

We are always open to new members. It’s a great sport for all ages and levels, so think about joining us!

PREPARATION As we all know, fail to prepare results in prepare to fail, so work begins early in the year to ensure a safe and successful event.

Considerable engagement with various agencies including AGS and the relevant local authorities to meet stringent safety requirements, plans, risk assessments etc, is required, and we are very grateful for the support from these bodies.

No man is an army, so the event could

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SPORTIVE

Our new gear was launched on the day

Members of DFBCC present the cheque to the Beaumont Hospital Foundation following a tremendous fundraising event

Heading out from the Training Centre on a beautiful day

not happen without the huge support from family, friends and stalwart volunteers. A series of recruitment begins early to try to ensure sufficient support.

Closer to the event, the chapel at the Training Centre is transformed into Santa’s grotto, and from the Thursday evening volunteers were filling goody bags, followed by late night registration on Friday before beginning again at 6:30am on the day of the sportive. The completion of 125km was nearly less exhausting! The numbers are getting bigger and logistics getting tougher, but we made it!

EVENT The weather held up for us and the day finished successfully with all participants home safe, medalled up by our welcoming team, and nourished by our very own Stephen Maximus O’Brien, who volunteers food and his service every year. Feedback from participants was extremely positive, with many returning each year, which must be a good sign!

THANKS I’d really like to thank everyone on the DFBCC committee involved in organising this event, especially Liz Hanley whose experience in this field and hard work across all aspects of the event was invaluable.

On behalf of the DFBCC Committee, I’d like to thank CFO Dennis Keeley who launched the event, and allowed us the use the DFB facilities, DFB vehicles and staff.

To BTO Brendan Carroll, ABTO Willie Maher and staff for their support and supply of water. To T/O John Keogh for his support, for everyone who registered

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to support Beaumont Foundation Rapid Access Prostate Clinic, DFB piper Mark Toner, photographer Trevor Hunt, D Watch Swords, An Garda Siochana who again kept us safe at the critical start of the event, all marshals, bikemarshals Ireland, Balbriggan retained crews, and our APs on the road for a great job.

Thanks must also go to DFB Sports & Social Club, Flashpoint Medical, W Display,Lidl, K&M, Clontarf Cycling Club, and Core Timing, as well as our sponsors: Fire House Pizza Ireland, Robbie Woodhouse and Jason of Cycle Super Store, Lidl, DUBCO, Total Exhibition Electrical Services, Dublin City Council, and Fingal Co Co. Thanks also to Brian Delaney and Brian DunLeavy who organised the spot prizes, Dominic Smith of Electrical & Home Entertainment, One Pico, Kileen Castle,

Mr Fox Restaurant, Chez Max, The Pig’s Ear! The Hole in the Wall, and Haven’s Pharmacy.

A special thanks to Anne Miller and Members First Credit Union for their huge generosity and to Miriam for organising the raffle that brought in substantial funds.

We raised a total of €25,481 this year.

Well done everyone!

CLUB

Club Training continues as usual throughout the year on Tuesdays and Thursdays, weather permitting, and we look forward to seeing a few new faces on the road. Our AGM will be held in the next few months and all Committee member positions are up for grabs so if you are interested, please contact any of the current committee members or email dfbcyclingclub@gmail.com DFB Committee: Chairperson Brendan Lodola: dfbccchair@gmail.com Secretary Liz Hanley: dfbcyclingclub@gmail.com Treasurer Joe Kiernan: dfbccfinance@gmail.com For information: http://www.beaumont.ie/kidneycentre-aboutus-urology-prostate https://tinyurl.com/Rapid-Access-Prostate-Clinic

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DFB HISTORY

Colin Darmon (second from left) and relatives of Jack Darmon with myself and CFO Dennis Keeley at Tara Street fire station

MARKING HISTORY The Second in a Series of Commemorative Plaques Shows the Importance of Remembering Fallen Firefighters, writes Las Fallon

I

n the last issue of Firecall, I detailed the unveiling of the first in a series of plaques to commemorate Dublin Fire Brigade members who lost their lives in the line of duty. Following that ceremony to honour the service of Inspector Christopher Doherty and fireman Peter Bourke, I was delighted to again be involved in the unveiling of another plaque honouring John ‘Jack’ Darmon at Tara Street fire station on 18 September.

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JACK DORMAN Jack Dorman joined DFB in 1922.

He was a veteran of the War of Independence and had joined the DFB after being interned for more than a year in Ballykinlar, having been picked up in the general sweep after Bloody Sunday. He played a part in the Civil War on the Republican side while a serving firefighter.

Jack Darmon lived in married quarters in Tara Street with his wife and four children. He was a driver,

Jack Darmon will be remembered at this site

and also worked as a mechanic for the Brigade. On 23 August, 1938, he was fatally electrocuted while working on an ambulance in the engine room pit in Tara Street.

The year 1938 was one of sweeping changes within the DFB and a new chief officer, new regulations and the coming Emergency all contributed to Fireman Darmon’s death on duty not being properly recognised and remembered.

I was honoured to play a part in

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DFB HISTORY

The plaque for Jack Dorman is unveiled

making things right in this respect, along with Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley and Councillor Tom Brabazon (representing the Lord Mayor).

If anything, this was an even more emotional day as members of the Darmon family from as far as Canada gathered with DFB members serving and retired, councillors and other guests to hear some short talks on Jack’s life and service, the plaque scheme itself, and the unveiling of the plaque at the entrance to DFBHQ.

SERIES This commemorative plaque marks the latest in the series honouring a total of seven firefighters I proposed to DCC with the support of CFO Keeley. Further plaques are planned to be unveiled in the near future to commemorate the service and mark the place of death of these firefighters. These include John Kite, the first DFB fatality, at Trinity Street in 1884,

Giving a speech on the history of the plaque series

and firemen Bob Malone, Peter McArdle and Thomas Nugent, who lost their lives at a building on Pearse Street in 1936.

These were men to be remembered, and I’m grateful that DFB and the DCC Commemoration and Naming Committee are of the same mind.

other places such as Tooley Street in London where James Braidwood, the father of the British fire service and Chief Officer of the London Fire Engine Establishment (the forerunner of the London Fire Brigade), lost his life.

HISTORY

Many of our Dublin fire stations now include memorial walls or gardens where members from that station who have died are remembered. It is a very honourable thing to do and gives solace to the comrades, family and friends of those members.

When all the present plaques are erected and unveiled, they will form a line from Pearse Street, via Townsend Street, Westmoreland Street to Trinity Street, a linear walk, and a message to all that Dublin Fire Brigade remembers its fallen members.

The DCC plaque scheme is a wonderful project. If at some stage you find yourself walking our streets and see that polished granite circle on the wall, take the time to read it and learn of events or people it marks.

If you happen to see a plaque with a red base, take a moment to remember those Dublin firefighters who fell in the line of duty, serving this city and protecting all who live here.

Plaques, statues and memorials are an excellent way to connect with the past but to my mind the plaque, properly done, is superior. It captures a piece of history in a very site-specific way: ‘This happened here’ rather than the usually ‘offsite’ positioning of statues. Dublin statues also have a habit of wandering around the city and some have even disappeared through various means over the years.

I have always believed that the sites where firefighters lost their lives should be marked. I have seen memorials at fire stations in London, New York and

IF YOU HAPPEN TO SEE A PLAQUE WITH A RED BASE, TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THOSE DUBLIN FIREFIGHTERS WHO FELL IN THE LINE OF DUTY, SERVING THIS CITY AND PROTECTING ALL WHO LIVE HERE”

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MEMORIALS

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GOLF

Joe Kelly, David Lanigan, Matt Conellion and Terry Meehan.

IN THE

SWING

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It’s been a busy year for the DFB Golf Society, writes David Kavanagh

We come to the end of our golfing year, we can look back at a memorable season.

Congratulations to all our winners, and a big welcome to all our new members. The society is going from strength to strength, with our numbers approaching 170 members.

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GOLF

We had ten outings in the year along with our annual challenge against NIFS. This year, it was played in Royal Tara Golf Club, with a great display by DFB, culminating with us winning back the Draeger Cup. Our captain Aidan O’ Sullivan’s outing was held in Forest Little Golf Club. This was won by Dave Sheridan, who held on to win with a score of 38 pts.

Our President Martin Halstead’s prize was held in Kilcock Golf Club and was won by Lar Sweetman with a score of 39 pts.

Best of luck to our incoming Captain Brian Gilbert and vicecaptain Anthony Mc Connell.

The committee are putting together next year’s golf outings and look forward to seeing you all in 2024.

A big thanks to the DFB Sports and Social Club and DUBCO for their continued and valued support.

If you would like to join the society, contact any of the committee members.

Captain Aidan O’Sullivan gives his speech

Handing out well-deserved prizes

Captain Aidan O’Sullivan, Jim King and Ray Campion.

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Pascal Heary, Martin Gallagher, Robert Green and captain Aidan O’Sullivan.

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To Dublin Fire Brigade for your support and solidarity from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation

Aviva Stadium has declared its commitment to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework We, the signatories to the Sports for Climate Action Initiative support the goals of the Paris Agreement in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

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23/06/2023 12:03 Stadium_Firecall Spring 2023_ND_V1.indd 20/09/2023252575_4C_Aviva 253136_4C_Aviva 10:30 Winter 2023_V1.indd 1 1 15/03/2023 14:38:49

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to the

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for the wonderful service they provide.

18/07/2022 16:07 13/09/2023 11:53 Ear Restaurant_Firecall Winter 2023_ND_V1.indd 1 07/01/2019253731_4C_Pigs 12:52

27/11/2023 16:00 01/12/2023 10:25

1875 CLUB

Club members with Teeling’s Brand Ambassador Rob Caldwell (back row, second from left), Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste, and CFO Keeley

The Oak Room at the Mansion House was a great place to hold the tasting

IN GREAT SPIRITS

A tasting at the Mansion House was a Great Success, writes 1875 Club Secretary Brian Tracey

O

n Tuesday, 24 October, the DFB 1875 Whiskey Club had its second tasting this year away from their home of the Palace, this time taking place in the luxurious surroundings of the Mansion House. We are always looking for new places to do a couple of tastings each year, and when our committee member

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Station Officer Martin McCabe suggested he might be able to get us into the Mansion House, we jumped at the opportunity.

Martin has a long association with the Office of the Lord Mayor as he provides the Aide de Camp service to Dublin’s first citizen.

Martin put myself in touch with the Lord Mayor, Daithí De Róiste, and we set about planning the event.

The Lord Mayor was adamant that we should have a theme based in Dublin for the tasting, and so it was decided to choose Teeling’s as the basis of the liquid on the night. Rob Caldwell is the Global Brand Ambassador for the Teeling’s

distillery, so we had a meeting and decided to make the theme for the night as “The Evolution of Dublin Pot Still”.

This was going to be the biggest tasting in the club’s history, as there are only usually 30-35 spaces available at a tasting in the Palace, but the Oak Room in the Mansion house can seat 60. Nevertheless, the tickets sold out in 20 minutes and we had a waiting list of members to try to accommodate.

GUESTS The Lord Mayor had a separate guest list of some colleagues, and we had a VIP list also. The

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1875 CLUB

Teeling’s gave us a great display of the evolution of pot still whiskeys

THE NIGHT WAS FANTASTIC, WITH A GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND EVERYONE WAS, NO PUN INTENDED, IN GREAT SPIRITS” VIPs included Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley, and we also invited Willie Ahern of the Palace Bar who provides our club with its home. Also, one of the businesses that looks after our club is The Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dawson Street, so they also had some staff in attendance. They have looked after us since day one for supplies of whiskey and goodies for our tastings, so it was nice to give something back to them.

On the night, the committee members spent several hours getting the Oak Room ready.

We had to pour more than 360 servings of whiskey and set out the tasting mats with our Exclusive Glencairn tasting glass. In recognition of this special occasion, we decided to commission a one-off glass for the tasting and everyone in attendance got to keep it as a memento of the night.

ATMOSPHERE The night was fantastic, with a great atmosphere and everyone was, no pun intended, in great spirits. Rob Caldwell and Alex Chasko (Teeling’s Master Distiller) put together some amazing whiskeys and even gave us a glimpse of a new release that has only just come out this December.

This particular bottle couldn’t be photographed as it would have broken a contract with the people releasing it, so we all got to taste it but were sworn to secrecy not to mention it on our social media.

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The exclusive Glencairn tasting glasses

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1875 CLUB

With Ger Devine presenting a framed copy of his poem to the Lord Mayor

Enjoying a lively chat with the Lord Mayor

THE NIGHT WAS FANTASTIC, WITH A GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND EVERYONE WAS, NO PUN INTENDED, IN GREAT SPIRITS” We were very well looked after by the Lord Mayor and his staff on the night, with some refreshments, nibbles and also a couple of private tours of the Mansion House made available. The Pot Still whiskeys on the night were all so different and everyone had their favourite, but overall the Cask Strength Chinkapin Oak Barrel expression was the one that won for me.

PRESENTATIONS We couldn’t let the night pass without one or two presentations, so on behalf of the 1875 Club we presented The Lord Mayor with a stunning bottle of 20-year-old Teeling Whiskey. He also received one of our Challenge coins with our DFB crest on it, and our resident Poet Ger Devine had a framed copy of his new poem The Firefighter’s Call presented to the Lord Mayor too. In an unplanned

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Everyone was in high spirits

moment, I asked Ger to recite the poem for us, and you could hear a pin drop as he delivered an amazing performance of his wonderful work.

Everyone was delighted with the night, and a few of us headed back to the Palace Bar for a committee debrief over a pint. Overall, the night was one of the best ever for the club, and led us into my final tasting as president in November with a lot to live up to.

Lord Mayor Daithí de Róiste addresses the crowd

THANKS This tasting was a challenge to organise and couldn’t have been a success without the help of the staff of the Mansion House and several committee members (Declan Rice, Simon Finglas, Enda McKenna, Barry Wilde and Bubbles) but most of all thanks to The Lord Mayor Of Dublin Daithí De Róiste for having Dublin’s Bravest in the Mansion House sipping Dublin’s finest drams.

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20/11/2023 14:01

RETIRED MEMBER

RETIRED MEMBER

PROFILE D/O Stephen Dillon

The retired D/O and Instructor talks to Adam Hyland about an eventful career “Working across all the Watches and through the ranks gave me an opportunity to meet, work and socialise with some fantastic characters, people who could be laughing one minute and have their sleeves rolled up and be in the thick of it at the coalface at a moment’s notice,” retired D/O Stephen Dillon tells me.

It’s fair to say that over his eventful career he has indeed been “in the thick of it”.

STARTING OUT

D/O Stephen Dillon as BA Safety Officer for recruit training

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Having served his time as an apprentice fitter and becoming a service engineer in the crane industry, he joined Dun Laoghaire Fire Service’s White Watch in 1987, training with 11 Dun Laoghaire and 19 Dublin Fire Brigade colleagues at the Training Centre, and “bringing skills such as working at height and operating small/ heavy tools to the Fire Service”.

Early in his career, Stephen took the opportunity to start getting involved in as many aspects of the job as possible, and as a SIPTU Union rep, was involved in the amalgamation with Dublin Fire Brigade in 1994.

“I immersed myself in many committees such as the Social Club, Boat Club, the Union,” he says. “This allowed me to make friends across all Watches and understand the workings of the organisation.”

LIFE-CHANGING In the same year as the amalgamation, Stephen found himself in an interesting position that proved to be extremely challenging and life-changing.

“I had the opportunity alongside two of my colleagues to represent DLFB/ DFB as an NGO in Rwanda with the Irish Aid Agency GOAL during the humanitarian crisis,” he tells me. “The amalgamation happened while I was away, so I didn’t yet know that a group of DFB personnel were also away in Rwanda, and we were to become lifelong friends after sharing similar experiences. With the support of family and colleagues, we signed up for a three-month tour of duty, and this was to become a very defining challenge personally. While serving as a Logistics Officer in Goma, a second crisis was erupting in Burundi, and I volunteered to set up a frontline camp with a small crew of GOAL NGOs. “Unfortunately, while travelling through Rwanda to Burundi in an old UN military vehicle, I was involved in an accident which left me trapped under the cab. I was lucky that a Canadian Military mechanical team with a high-ab crane and a medical team from Médecins Sans Frontières were close by.

“My injuries included a broken clavicle and a ruptured cruciate knee

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RETIRED MEMBER

Being rescued after the crash in the UN military vehicle

Taking up sailing has replaced one set of challenges with another

ligament, but they successfully saved my life by rescuing me and organised a helicopter evacuation to Kigali in Rwanda for myself and the driver who was severely injured but went on to survive.

“In a tragic coincidence, the accident happened on the same day in August 1994, and at the same time, as an incident where two of our colleges were involved in an ambulance crash in North County Dublin in which unfortunately F/F Steven (Timmy) Horgen lost his life and F/F (Gary Burke) was reported to have lost a limb.

This was to cause massive, confused information for my family and GOAL across the airwaves between Ireland and Africa, and vice versa. News reached my family about an incident in which someone had died and another might lose a limb, and they didn’t know if it was the same incident I was involved in.”

Stephen eventually recovered from his injuries, spending time at the GOAL HQ in Nairobi before returning home to a relieved family, but the incident gave him a new outlook.

“When you survive a life-threatening incident like that your perspective on life changes,” he says. “For those that know me and have worked alongside me, they know that I took on the mantra of ‘work hard and play hard’. The Fire Service gave me the opportunity to do both.”

CAREER

“

FOR THOSE THAT KNOW ME AND HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE ME, THEY KNOW THAT I TOOK ON THE MANTRA OF ‘WORK HARD AND PLAY HARD’. THE FIRE SERVICE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO BOTH”

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Upon returning home, Stephen’s career saw him move to several Watches, stations and positions, gaining a huge amount of experience. He joined the crew of C Watch at Phibsboro fire station, where he served for four years until he was promoted to Sub-Officer on B Watch in the ERCC for three years. After that, he became S/O on both A Watch and D Watch in Foxtrot District. During this time, he also completed the ITC Bachelor of Business in Emergency Services degree with 1st Class Honours.

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29/11/2023 12:45

RETIRED MEMBER

Recovering at GOAL HQ in Nairobi before flying home

With the rescue team and colleague Mario Lodola at the hospital in Kigali, Rwanda

D/O John Chubb presents some of the new training tactics to DFB members

each other when and where we can,” he tells me. “I think all managers would agree you are only as good as your team.”

APPRECIATION

“That certainly helped me understand the way all facets of the organisation worked and allowed me to navigate my way through the promotional process,” he says.

In 2017, he started working as D/O on Projects at the Training Centre including PDR/LearnPro and the Incident Command XVR Suite, before

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becoming D/O on B Watch Foxtrot District until his retirement. He also worked on Sub-Officer, Station Officer and District Officer Development courses, taking a down to earth approach to the role of an officer.

“In our line of work, I always found it very important to be able to set aside rank, seniority and be able to support

Stephen is very grateful for his long and enjoyable career and reflects on those who have not been so lucky.

“I consider myself very lucky to leave DFB with, as they say, your health and your wealth, so I would like to take time out to reflect on the growing number of colleagues and dear friends that have not made it to their retirement years. I would like to assure their families and friends that in an organisation such as DFB, they will never be forgotten. May they Rest in Peace.”

He adds that for him, with a sharp focus on serving the public, the best thing about working in Dublin Fire Brigade has been the civic

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RETIRED MEMBER

pride it bestows, but having seen the organisation and society in general change over the years, he is also aware of the challenges that DFB now faces, both internally and externally.

CHALLENGES “Over my career, I have seen the decline of the face-to-face conversation that took place at the station kitchen table, union halls or even at the local hostelry,” he tells me. “These were the places where rosters, pay rates, benevolent funds, etc., were visualised and supported.

These important face-to-face meetings have been replaced by anonymous communication on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, and I believe this is to the detriment of the job, as strength is in numbers. Social media can’t replace robust discussion. So, I would encourage all ranks to join committees, sit down with your peers and deliberate solutions to improve your work life, and improve DFB as an organisation going forward.

“There is also a major challenge for DFB in that Dublin is a growing city, and DFB has to work hard to grow with it. There are new challenges in the sprawling city and high-rise buildings, and DFB has to make sure it isn’t spread too thin, but it can be done.”

Ash completed her ERCC service and went on to train as a firefighter in 2020 during the pandemic. Unfortunately, as a family we were disappointed not to be able to attend her pass out due to COVID-19 restrictions, but despite this it was a proud day as she now represents a fourth generation to serve in DFB.” Stephen also says that he keeps in regular contact with his former colleagues.

“I suppose you could say I’m now a socialite,” he laughs. “I’m not a sportsperson, so I keep in touch with friends and colleagues with breakfasts, coffee mornings, lunches, and even a pint or two where we get together and talk about old times. I’ve dropped the ‘work hard’ part of my mantra and am now focused on playing hard, and enjoying life to the full alongside family and friends!”

With daughter Ashleigh at her ERCC Pass Out

“

WHEN YOU SURVIVE A LIFE-THREATENING INCIDENT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE CHANGES”

CONNECTIONS Although he is now enjoying retirement, Stephen’s connection with DFB is still strong. His daughter Ashleigh represents the fourth generation of firefighters to come from the family.

“In 2016, Ashleigh asked for my advice about entering the competition for a career as a Call Taker in the ERCC,” he tells me. “Myself, my wife Anna and son Shay wholeheartedly supported Ash in her decision and were delighted when she successfully started in late 2016.

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At a 4th of July Parade in Long Island

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

29/11/2023 12:46

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27/03/2017 14:17 11/05/2023 10/11/2023 10:09 16:52 22/01/2016 09:41 01/12/2023 10:40

CHARITY

LAUNCHING OSCAR DISTRICT DFB has formed a partnership with Oscar’s Kids, the charity creating precious memories for terminally ill children and their families

D

ublin Fire Brigade has always been open to making cherished memories for visiting children excited to climb into a fire engine or work a hose, and in September this commitment to community was made official with the launch of a partnership with the Oscar’s Kids charity.

Oscar’s Kids was founded by Dublin couple Yavanna and Lar Keogh in 2019 in honour of their three-year-old son

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Oscar who was diagnosed with DIPG, a rare and terminal form of paediatric brain tumour. They set out to make it possible for terminally ill children and their families to create positive memories in any way they can while they still can.

SERENDIPITY In a moment of serendipity, earlier this year, FF/P Stephen Cleary of A Watch HQ was talking to a colleague about the Garda charity little Blue Heroes, and from there the relationship with Oscar’s Kids was born.

“I was asked if we did anything similar to Little Blue Heroes, which we didn’t at the time,” FF/P Cleary says, “so I looked into what they do and how much it means to families to have the distraction of a special day and the memories that are made for terminally ill children and their families.”

He wrote up a proposal discussing the possibility of Dublin Fire Brigade starting their own initiative and gave it to A/C/F/O Greg O’Dwyer, who was intrigued by the idea and put it to the HR department and CFO Dennis Keeley.

As it happened, Elaine O’Flaherty in HR was already aware of the Oscar’s Kids charity.

“Yavanna Keogh had a page on Instagram reviewing beauty products that I followed,” she explains, “but I saw that her page had changed and was now all about the journey her family had been on with their son Oscar, and I was amazed at how positive they were and the great work they were involved in.

“When Stephen came up with the idea, we were thinking of organisations we could work with and what we could do with them, and I suggested Oscar’s Kids because they are a Dublin couple, we are Dublin Fire

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CHARITY

The Oscar’s Kids families who enjoyed a special day at the Training Centre

“

THE IDEA WAS ALL ABOUT MAKING MEMORIES FOR TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, TRYING TO GIVE THEM AN EXPERIENCE, AND MAKING THEM HONOURABLE FIREFIGHTERS”

A trip on the 42m ladder

children, but also their parents and siblings.

They get to remember a good day out with their sibling who is unfortunately very unwell.”

“The idea was all about making memories for terminally ill children and their families, trying to give them an experience, and making them honourable firefighters,” FF/P Cleary adds.

PARTNERSHIP Brigade, and they do such amazing things for children. They send them lego, bring them in limos to Smyths for the day, create amazing experiences, so I thought they would be a very good fit for us.”

“When Elaine mentioned Oscar’s Kids, it was a perfect fit with what we were trying to do,” agrees FF/P Cleary.

“We’ve done this kind of thing informally on many occasions for Make a Wish and from our own community outreach, with ill children coming into our stations,” A/C/F/O O’Dwyer says, “and it has always been very uplifting for everybody involved – not just the families and children, but also for the crews who love doing this. They are brilliant, and go out of their way to make children feel special, and the children have a lasting positive memory to take away. But it goes beyond that because it is not just for the

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“I wrote to Yavanna and Lar Keogh outlining that their work is something we’d like to be involved with on a more formal basis, to identify with one particular charity and focus on that,” says A/C/F/O O’Dwyer.

“An initial Teams meeting introduced us to them and gave them the information they needed about us, and following that they came to HQ to see us,” says Elaine.

“A/C/F/O O’Dwyer gave them a tour, and they said they were delighted that we had contacted them, and they too thought it was a really good fit.”

“When we brought them in and met them, we knew immediately that they were the right partnership, and we took it from there,” A/C/F/O O’Dwyer says. “What sold it for me was just going on their website and Facebook pages, and their story would absolutely break your heart.”

The partnership was quickly formed,

with Yavanna and Lar contacting DFB with details of seriously ill children who have an interest in the fire service. DFB then organise to bring the family to their local station, or the Training Centre, or if they are too ill to travel, have a crew visit them at home or at a medical facility.

OSCAR DISTRICT In honour of Oscar, Oscar District was formed to accompany the DFB’s current districts.

“We explained the whole concept of the seniority of badge numbers to Yav and Lar and they thought it was a great idea,” says A/C/F/O O’Dwyer. “Badge Number 1 went to Oscar himself. As well as the goodies they get the cert, the badge number, and that is very important for the families afterwards, that they still have that memory of the cert and the fact that their child was an honorary member of DFB. They also get the Oscar Coin, which has been specially commissioned. It is part of our identification with the charity to have the Oscar name.”

The feedback and support that has come in from DFB members, friends and businesses has been phenomenal.

SUPPORT “Every single person we have been in touch with has delivered 110%,” A/C/F/O O’Dwyer

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CHARITY

Children got to enjoy a day as honorary firefighters

says. “Everybody is fully behind it. The Chief gave his backing, the crews are lining up to volunteer to come in and help out on their days off, they are donating things themselves, contacting friends of theirs in businesses to get sponsorship.”

“The feedback was great, a very good response,” FF/P Cleary agrees. “People offered to do a lot of things to help make the day memorable for the children and their families.”

LAUNCH The partnership was officially launched in September during Child Cancer Awareness Month, and though the weather was awful, everybody came away from the day with great memories.

“Originally the plan was for five children to come down to us for the launch but unfortunately one of them, Michael, was too ill to come so we sent a pack out to him in advance and we made him Badge No.2,” says FF/P Cleary.

“On the morning of the launch at the Training Centre, CFO Keeley opened the ceremony and invited the children to come up and get a certificate and goodie bag. The children got to interact with the firefighters who were there, a couple of them went on the ladder, they got to spray the hose, drive around on a fire engine, making great memories. Lar and Yav also said a few words about how important it was to look out for the children and how happy they were to form the partnership.”

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Making precious memories

“Things can happen very quickly in these situations, and we wanted to organise the launch quickly because time can be a factor.,” Elaine says. “Michael, who couldn’t come that day, has sadly passed away since.

You are trying to be sensitive to families and children, and sometimes you don’t really know just how ill the children are and what kind of accommodations you need to have in place.

“We spoke to a nurse in Temple Street Hospital who is on the board of directors for Oscar’s Kids, and she said not to worry about saying the wrong thing, to just treat these children as children.

“People really got on board with sponsors, reaching out to businesses, DFBSSC gave us Smyths vouchers and sponsored the balloons, companies who deal with our logistics department gave us things such as t-shirts, mini fire engines, we made phenomenal goodie bags for the day. We had sweets, cake, one of our firefighters owns Fire House Pizza and he supplied a range of great food. It was all about making it as special as we could. Anybody who has any type of skill or connection wanted to be involved, and continues to show that, and I have to say that as someone from the admin side, I have been blown away by the determination of the firefighters to get involved.”

“We need to thank everybody for their support. I can’t stress that enough how amazing they are” A/C/F/O O’Dwyer adds.

The children each got their own PPE

MEMORIES “As a day, the atmosphere at the launch was just phenomenal and we got amazing feedback from the families,” Elaine says.

“They thought they were just coming for a few photos, so it was a great surprise and created great memories. And it wasn’t just for ill children, because one of the families were a bereaved family who came along to see us give their child an honorary membership. It is not just about the children who are sick, it is about the families and the bereaved families as well.”

Oscar’s Kids already has a waiting list of families who would like a special day with DFB, and as A/C/F/O O’Dwyer says: “We will do whatever it takes. It all depends on each child’s capabilities, and there is a fast turnaround, but we are well able to manage it, we are determined to make it work and make memories as special as possible for every family.”

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

01/12/2023 10:14

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01/12/2023 10:39

RETIRED MEMBERS

Our members at the unveiling of the plaque commemorating Jack Darmon at Tara Street

THE RETIRED MEMBERS ASSOCIATION DIARY Important subjects were covered at the Retired Members Association meeting, while memorable outings and events were also enjoyed, writes Secretary Tony McCann DFBRMA MONTHLY MEETING Our meeting in the Teachers Club on Tuesday, 25 July was well attended, with 24 members present.

Relevant photographs were presented to members who supported the unveiling of the plaque to the two firefighters killed in the fire at 30 Westmoreland Street in 1891, after which, one of our members brought up a subject of importance dealing with the problem facing families on the death

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of retired members of Dublin Fire Brigade.

He discovered that some people did not know how to go about making Dublin Fire Brigade arrangements on the passing of their spouse or partner. It was suggested that perhaps a representative from our association should visit the deceased’s home to give advice and offer condolences, but it was decided after some discussion that it was not our function to get involved with

families at this level.

Seeking advice from Tara St HQ, ACFO Michael O’Reilly informed us that there is a protocol used when dealing with the death of a retired member as follows: When the DFB are notified by a family member (and it must be a family member) on the death of a retired member, the Mobilisation Officer initiates a dedicated Policy Document which starts off by sending a text message to all

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RETIRED MEMBERS

DFB members informing them of the death and the funeral arrangements, and continues with the Mobilisation Officer sending out the nearest District Officer to the family home.

The D/O will offer his condolences to the family and ask them if they wish to have a Fire Brigade funeral, and if so, will arrange to have the flag, helmet and axe delivered to the church/ crematorium/funeral home on the day. Dublin Fire Brigade will also arrange to have the nearest fire appliance and crew dressed in full fire gear attend the church or crematorium for the funeral service.

The Committee advised our members that the onus is on each one of us to sit down and tell our Partners or Next of Kin what to do in the event of our passing, where exactly documents such as wills, insurance, bank and credit union accounts, are kept, and of course to ring the Dublin Fire Brigade Mobilisation Officer when the occasion arises. We retired members must be prepared, and give our Next of Kin or family member all the above important details before anything does happen.

Another important item was brought up by Tom Geraghty in an Irish Times newspaper cutting which he read from, titled “Cancer death rates higher in firefighters”.

It noted that firefighters are up to four times more likely to die from cancer, according to a recent study.

This alarming information concerns today’s active firefighters as well as retired firefighters.

Tom went on to read the article, quoting Emmet Malone, Work Correspondent: “Firefighters suffer from far higher than usual cancer death rates, their representatives will tell the Irish Congress of Trade Unions biennial conference in Kilkenny. They are almost

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THE COMMITTEE ADVISED OUR MEMBERS THAT THE ONUS IS ON EACH ONE OF US TO SIT DOWN AND TELL OUR PARTNERS OR NEXT OF KIN WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF OUR PASSING” four times as likely as members of the wider population to die from prostate cancer, 3.2 times as likely to die from leukaemia and 2.4 times as likely to be killed by cancer of the oesophagus, according to data from a peer reviewed study carried out

by Dr Anna Stec at the University of Central Lancashire.

“The fatality rate is so high says Fire Brigade Union delegate Phil Millar, because ‘firefighters are getting these cancers 20 years before other people would normally so and doctors aren’t expecting to see them and they are being missed’.”

CONTAMINATED CLOTHING CONNECTION The FBU is calling for regular health screening for cancer and other serious health issues and investment in equipment, including additional kit so contaminated clothing can be discarded immediately after attending a fire.

They also want routine monitoring of firefighters’ cause of death, active or retired. SIPTU, which represents firefighters south of the border, is to launch a campaign on the issue with broadly the same list of demands in the coming months, according to Cathal Murray, a Cork based firefighter and representative.

“We need screening for cancers so that they are caught earlier, preventative measures to deal with situations where smoke and gases are encountered and supplying basic measures like extra sets of gear, because at the moment you can have three or four firefighters travelling back to a station together after a fire and actually contaminating each

other,” Mr Murray said.

Tom Geraghty said he was surprised on hearing this conference was held in Kilkenny and attended

by Northern Ireland and Cork firefighter’s representatives but unfortunately, there was no representative from Dublin Fire Brigade, one of the largest Fire Services in the country. Any retired firefighters who are interested in learning more, or who has concerns, can contact S/Off Terry Dent at the Training Centre.

DASH TO THE PARK Ger Ryan, Hon. Sec. of the DFB Sports and Social Club invited our members to meet their working C Watch buddies for coffee and chat in the DASH Café in the Phoenix Park on Thursday, 17 August.

It was a beautiful morning as we sat in the sun drinking our Americanos and Cappuccinos and stuffing our faces with doughnuts and choices of other delicious cakes. I personally was amazed to meet workmates I hadn’t seen for more than 20 years, the craic was good and we didn’t feel the hours passing as we talked about things that had happened while working in the different fire stations in the past. It was an interesting experience and one that could be repeated at a future date.

Our sincere thanks to Paul McCann, Ger Ryan and the Committee of the DFBSSC for inviting our members to this unique experience.

PHOTO PROJECT DFB TRAINING CENTRE Photographer and archivist Darren Donovan is endeavouring to identify names on old photographs belonging

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RETIRED MEMBERS

The get-together at DASH Café gave us the chance to catch up with old friends and colleagues

SOME OF OUR MEMBERS FROM THE NORTHSIDE GOT DISORIENTATED ARRIVING IN DUBLIN 4 AND WENT TO THE WRONG PUB” Trinity Hotel next door for coffee and sandwiches. Needless to say, when the occasion ended some of our members moved across the road to the nearest pub for a few pints.

GOING TO THE DOGS

to the DFB Museum. Our members were invited to come along on Monday, 11 October to help him out, which indeed they did, and were found to be very useful in identifying and putting names to many photographs. These photos will be digitised, catalogued and filed away for future use in the DFB Museum. During the day our members were treated to a nice lunch, thanks to the Training Centre staff.

PLAQUE UNVEILING On Monday, 18 September, the DFB Retired Members Association were invited to the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the death of F/F

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John (Jack) Darmon in the garage in Tara Street fire station in 1938.

The story of this firefighter’s life in Dublin Fire Brigade and his involvement in the War of Independence in 1922 was narrated by our historian Las Fallon to an interested audience including Jack Darmon’s grandson and other descending family members, Deputy Lord Mayor Tom Brabazon, DCC councillors, Assistant Dublin Librarian, CFO Denis Keeley, Assistant CFOs and our retired members.

The unveiling was performed by CFO Denis Keeley and the Deputy Lord Mayor, and following the ceremony those present retired to the

Ten of our members arrived at Shelbourne Dog Racing Track on Thursday, 28 September, anxious to part with their money or to make a killing on some winners.

Arrangements were made to meet in the pub opposite the Church gate in Ringsend for a few pints before going into Shelbourne Park, but unfortunately some of our members from the Northside got disorientated arriving in Dublin 4 and went to the wrong pub.

Having had a few pints, they discovered their mistake and went looking for the rest of the group, all to no avail. Eventually, arriving late at their destination they discovered their friends sitting at the tables waiting for their meal, which was delayed because the group wasn’t complete, so there was some slagging there. As the evening progressed the banter and the craic was mighty, with our Treasurer coming out on top with the most winnings, and a good night was had by all.

GLENEAGLES On Sunday 15 October, we took a trip to Gleneagles in Killarney for a four-day stay, and we’ll record the events on this outing in the next issue.

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

01/12/2023 15:31

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30/11/2023 10:05

ROPE RESCUE

BUILDING A RESCUE COMMUNITY The Inaugural Rope Rescue Interoperability Workshop Brought Shared Expertise to the Table, writes S/O Dave Connolly

O

n Saturday, 21 October, the Dublin Fire Brigade Rope Rescue Team hosted a Rope Rescue Interoperability Workshop at the Training Centre in Marino.

The first of its kind, the event brought together Rope Access Specialists from full-time and voluntary organisations from around the country, and a Spanish fire service team from Malaga, to test themselves in four challenging rope rescue-based scenarios.

In recent years, the DFB team has competed in international rope rescue events in Belgium, Spain and France, and recently became the first Irish team to compete in the UK Rescue Organisation national competition.

INTEROPERABILITY With the belief that interoperability

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between forces is crucial to effectiveness, and having been part of the bigger Rope Rescue community, we’ve seen the positive learning and cooperation between all teams involved, and the benefits for all. The idea behind the event was to get different agencies, which may not be used to working together, to share skills and work towards a common goal of helping a casualty and successfully resolving an incident. We also wanted teams to learn from seeing how other teams approach the same scenario and what techniques and equipment they use to problem solve it.

The organisations in attendance were An Garda Síochána, Defence Forces, Coast Guard, Civil Defence, National Ambulance Service, Dublin Wicklow, Sligo and Leitrim Mountain Rescue, Kilkenny and Laois Fire Services, PSNI, Access Rescue Consulting at Height (ARCH), the PSNI and the Malaga Fire Service team.

Before the main event kicked off, there was a team of volunteers beavering away behind the scenes to get the Training Centre set up for the event. The team from Malaga Fire Service was collected from the airport by the DFB Rope Rescue Team and brought to the Training Centre where they would be housed for the weekend. With their luggage offloaded and after a quick tour of the facilities, the next stop was the Guinness Storehouse to sample some local beverages.

On the day after the event, we also brought the Malaga team to visit No.3 Station, where DFB’s Rope Rescue Team operates from, before they flew home.

EVENT Following the Team Leader briefings, the event was officially opened by CFO Dennis Keeley, who accepted a beautiful presentation from our international guests.

Each team faced two scenarios in the

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ROPE RESCUE

morning and two in the afternoon, with a “fun” assault course available if any team had a spare few minutes. Teams were given the option of tackling the scenarios as if they were real-life incidents, timed, with supervisors standing back and assessing safety issues and techniques, to provide feedback to the teams afterwards.

Alternatively, the teams could receive the same scenario brief and then be brought through a teaching evolution for one possible solution to the scenario.

Each of the scenarios had specific objectives and learning outcomes to maximise the benefit to those in attendance.

One twist was that some of the teams were mixed around, with some members of the Defence Forces joining An Garda Síochána, Laois Fire Service pairing with Kilkenny Fire Service and later Civil Defence, and Sligo/Leitrim Mountain Rescue pairing with RSNI, all to help develop communication

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and interoperability, just like what could be expected at a real incident.

SCENARIOS The first scenario dealt with a parachutist or kitesurfer snagged on a tall structure. This simulated a parachute caught on the jib of a crane, or a tree on a mountainside, where an aerial appliance couldn’t access. Rescuers had to climb a set of access lines to reach the upper level, then set up a whole team rescue system, controlled from the ground. The rescuer made contact with the ‘victim’ and released them from their parachute harness to be lowered to the ground.

The second scenario was a car down an embankment. This presented teams with a vehicle over a cliff edge, down an embankment, harbour wall, somewhere not accessible on foot, with a person trapped inside with lower limb injuries. Teams had to access the patient first and start medical

care, while the rest of the team lowered a firefighter with battery cutting equipment to force the door. The patient then needed to be packaged in a stretcher to be raised aloft and over an edge whilst also recovering the firefighter.

The third scenario was an Urban Search and Rescue with a gas explosion in a building. The brief was to use the turntable ladder to access an upper floor in a building after an explosion. There was no access from the ground floor through debris. A patient needed to be located and stretchered out from a different level beyond the debris field, while the Team Leader was redeployed to another task. This required good teamwork and communication in moving a stretcher through some tight spaces in a building.

The fourth scenario dealt with a person with a trapped arm. This required rescuers quickly accessing a person who had fallen

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Manoeuvring down a ‘cliff face’ to rescue a patient

The Training Centre facilities were perfect for the scenarios

Rescuing a patient from an inaccessible area

into a pit and had an arm trapped under an immovable object. When the rescue reached the patient, they discovered a catastrophic haemorrhage needing immediate intervention. The rest of the team then had to lower over a Doctor who assessed the patient. This became a ‘life over limb’ emergency resulting in an “infield” arm amputation. Once stabilised, the patient had to be recovered back up.

After lunch, D/O (retired) Derek Cheevers gave an insightful overview into “Inter-agency Working” including JESIP and NILO principles. This was followed by a thought-provoking presentation by David Longworth on renewables (wind energy turbines) and some of the challenges we face with them as rescuers in Ireland.

Equipment suppliers ISRT and Progressive Distribution were also on hand to answer questions and advise on industry innovations for teams.

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Each team brought their own rope rescue skills to the event

THANKS The day was a huge success and would not have been possible without the support of our Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley, Brigade Training Officer Brendan Carroll, for all his help facilitating us with the use of the Training Centre and all its resources, S/O Richie McDonald and S/Off Stephen McMenamy, our logistics backbone, more than 30 volunteers, Medics (Mater Hospital), prop makers and casualties for giving up their time, and the catering staff for keeping us fed and watered.

Truly, without their efforts, none of this would have taken place. And hopefully they’ll come back for the next evolution, whatever that becomes.

Alongside the hard work of the volunteers, the teams themselves contributed to making this a great day. They took a big leap of faith into the unknown, and embraced it with gusto, sharing their

skills and experience freely to other teams.

After all the equipment was made up, there was an open invite to the Church bar, where the DFB Sports and Social Club had generously laid on some platters and refreshments for everyone to enjoy.

The day was never about being a competition. The focus was always on learning and meeting other like-minded people, who may end up working together at an incident.

Yet inevitably, there was some healthy competitiveness resulting in awards for some outstanding performances: Best Team Leader – An Garda Siochana Best Technical Skills – Malaga Fire Service Best Medical Care – Arch Safety Best All Round Team – Defence Forces

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01/12/2023 09:55

FAMILY FUN DAY

NIGHTS ON THE TOWN A Chance for DFB Members to Meet Up at a New Venue Our Watch nights out returned for the month of October, but this time in a new venue. After feedback from some of our members to trial alternative spots, it was decided by the DFBSSC Committee to go back across the Liffey and to change the location to Dakota Bar on South William Street.

The nights out started off with C Watch on 5 October, and went from strength to strength over the other three nights, with more than 80 members attending for B watch and more than 90 members attending on 19 October for A Watch.

Thanks to all the Committee reps who attended on their nights for looking after the events, and to the staff of Dakota who were very attentive and welcoming to all our members.

We will welcome any feedback from our members over the next few months about the choice of venue for the social nights and decide then on the location for next year.

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ARCHIVE

FROM THE ARCHIVES Digging into the DFB archives unearthed some great shots from a bus fire in 1967, writes FF/P Darren Donovan

The Number 78 catches fire after the engine overheated

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ARCHIVE

The fire completely destroyed the bus, leaving just a steel skeleton

The smouldering remains of the bus

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Curious onlookers gather to see the remains of what was the Number 78 city bus

I

n collating the many photos and stories for the DFB archives, I came across a newspaper clipping from the Irish Press, dated 14 August 1967, which included an account of an incident in which a Dublin Bus caught fire. The article is short and to the point, but the accompanying photos are of great interest, and I share them here.

According to the article, a new crew of driver Paul O’Neill, conductor Anthony Kelly, and inspector at the terminus Edward Byrne, had just started their shift at 2pm, and more than 40 passengers had boarded the Number 78 (Spiddal Park) route city bus on Aston Quay, when the fire broke out.

O’Neill later told reporters from the newspaper that upon entering the cabin of the Leyland 68-seater, he noticed that the accelerator had become stuck and the engine was

“

The CIE staff who raised the alarm look on from a safe distance

overheating. He immediately got out of the cabin and warned the conductor Kelly.

Seeing what was happening and realising the danger, Inspector Byrne calmly told the passengers that the bus would not be departing and that another bus was waiting behind them to begin the route, managing to get all of the people off the vehicle before it caught fire.

The blaze had already engulfed the bus by the time a Dublin Fire Brigade crew arrived, and they concentrated on the tank area of the vehicle, which held up to 70 gallons, to prevent an explosion.

At the height of the fire, CIE crews from other buses assisted gardaí in keeping a crowd of hundreds who had gathered to watch DFB at work at a safe distance, and after just 20 minutes, “only a twisted skeleton of bent steel remained”.

ONLY A TWISTED SKELETON OF BENT STEEL REMAINED”

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DFB members extinguishing the fire

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

20/11/2023 14:04

When a child loses their home, they lose their entire world.

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Donate now.

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04/02/2020 16:09

CINEMA

AT THE MOVIES The DFB Cinema Day is Growing in Popularity, writes Ger Ryan

O

n the eve of Halloween, we returned to The Savoy Cinema for the third time for our Cinema Day. This event has been a massive success since its launch last year and is growing in popularity with each visit. We had more than 300 people attend this time.

While the kids are off school on their midterm breaks, it gives our members a great opportunity to have a day out in Dublin town, with some going to the Lego shop beforehand, then out for a bite to eat after the cinema. The featured movies this time were Paw Patrol and the more popular on the day, Trolls Movie.

While all the kids had a great time watching the movie and enjoying their popcorn and treats, it allowed some parents a chance to grab a quick nap after a hard night’s work. As ever, the management and staff at The Savoy were fantastic. They had everything ready to go, meaning there was no queuing at all for our members, they were able to grab their treats and head straight into the movie screen.

As a club, we recognise the need to try and cater for all our members and families. FF/ AP Joe Moran put together a survey that was distributed to our members to gather some data about families with children that have

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sensory needs. As a result of this, we were delighted that The Savoy were able to cater for this, and for the first time we held a sensory sensitive screening of The Trolls Movie. We hope to build on this for other events going forward.

We plan to return to The Savoy in the New Year during the next school mid-term break.

We may also be back in The Savoy sooner with an alternative event for our members, so keep an eye out on our social media pages.

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20/11/2023 14:08

BINGE WATCHES

WHAT TO STREAM THIS SEASON

WHAT IF…?

Disney+, 2 series

THE LONG SHADOW

ITV, 1 series

The crimes and subsequent manhunt for Peter Sutcliffe, coined the Yorkshire Ripper, gripped the UK between 1975 and 1980. This true-crime drama does a fine job of depicting the chase for the man who murdered at least 13 women and attempted to kill seven more in Manchester and Yorkshire before he was finally apprehended. With a fine cast that includes UK TV stalwarts including Toby Jones, David Morrissey, Daniel Mays and a whole host of soap opera actors, it focuses not only on the police investigation and multiple mis-steps and mistakes, but on the families affected by the awful crimes of one of England’s most notorious serial killers, so much so that we hardly see him before the third episode. It is hard-hitting and refreshingly unwilling to avoid depicting the social and economic situations that led to terrible tragedies.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have had their work cut out for them in trying to keep up with the movie juggernaut’s various ‘phases’, and with this animated series the creators take things a little further by having a wry look at what would happen if various stories had panned out differently in alternative realities. What would have happened had the Avengers become victims of a zombie outbreak? What if T’Challa had become Starlord instead of Peter Quill, and not Black Panther? Or if Tony Stark had been rescued all those years ago, thus never becoming Iron Man? Ok, you may feel like a bit of a kid watching an animated series about superheroes, but it is surprisingly entertaining, with some stories funny, some tragic. Series 2 has just started.

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT BBC iPlayer, 1 series

Another true crime drama and one that will stay with you for a long time after viewing because it is excellently written and acted. Telling the tragic and bizarre story of the gaslighting and subsequent murders of two unrelated elderly people in a quiet village in Buckinghamshire, it depicts the manipulation and callous calculations of young man Ben Fields, who worms his way into the affections of retired teacher Peter Farquhar, then widow Ann Moore-Martin, before killing both. The too-late police investigation and trial of Fields is well depicted, and the acting by Timothy Spall, Anne Reid, and Sheila Hancock are brilliant, while young Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke is scarily convincing as the ruthless Fields and is one to watch.

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BINGE WATCH

VIKINGS

Amazon Prime, 6 series

BLACK SUMMER Netflix, 2 series

If you haven’t seen one of the countless zombie apocalypse shows in a while, it’s worth checking out this innovative spin-off prequel to Z Nation. Thankfully, you don’t need to have seen Z Nation to enjoy this story that depicts the early days of a zombie outbreak that devastates North America, with survivors finally deciding to leave their homes and take to the road in the hope of escaping the death and carnage. The genre has been done to death (pun intended) but this is a fresh take, with the hand-held camera approach dragging you right into the action and the sheer lack of drama around the sudden deaths of main characters (they are matterof-factly killed off ) making it all seem that little bit more real and tense.

If you enjoyed the previously recommended The Last Kingdom, you’ll love this series that was the first drama commissioned by The History Channel, partly because it covers the same era of early Viking invasion. Finding inspiration in Scandinavian sagas and real-life chronicles of the age, it tells the tale of the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok, who swapped his farming life for one of adventure, exploration and conquest. His actions led to the age of the Vikings, and this series covers the exploits first of Ragnar and his allies, then his sons, as they venture further afield and wield even greater influence over 8th Century Europe.

It’s best to ignore the inaccuracies, especially regarding timelines and the overlapping of real people who would never have met, and just sit back and enjoy this epic.

FOR ALL MANKIND Apple TV+, 4 series

This interesting and well-thought-out sci-fi drama has just begun its fourth series, and since its start has built on a good premise: What if the Soviets had beaten the USA to the Moon? In this alternate reality, it means that in a refusal to be truly beaten, the US engages in an ongoing Space Race with their Cold War foes, with both attempting to out-do each other in their achievements and incorporating women and minorities into their programmes to gain ‘firsts’. As each attempts to go that bit further, the risks become more apparent. Beginning in 1969, each series takes a ten-year leap forward, with familiar events playing out in the background. Slowburning but very entertaining viewing.

TOP BOY

Amazon Prime/Netflix, 5 series

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE Netflix, 1 series

This limited series screams ‘prestige drama’, and rightly so. Based on the Pulitzer prize-winning novel by Anthony Doerr, it tells the tale of two teenagers - a blind French girl and a German boy forced to fight for the Nazi regime - who meet during World War 2. Beautifully shot and superbly acted, it is an admirable catch for Netflix, and although it does veer towards clunky and overly loud action that the subtle novel doesn’t ever go near, it is an enjoyable enough four-parter that sweeps across years and countries to tell a very cinematic story, and has its appeal bumped up by a stellar cast including Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo.

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Top Boy has gained a lot of attention over the last few years as the Channel 4-created series that was dropped by the networkl was picked up by Netflix after it was championed by rapper Drake. Like a London version of The Wire, it follows the exploits of drug dealers and gangs in Hackney as they try to survive and grow their empire. Laced with realism and social commentary, it is a gripping drama that has its fair share of humour and action, and has seen reinvigorated interest from these shores with the addition of Love/Hate alumni Barry Keoghan and Brian Gleeson as two Irish criminals looking to carve out their own piece of the action.

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01/12/2023 09:39

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS EMERGENCY SERVICES NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

CYPRUS

UGANDA

BATTLE OVER AMBULANCE OWNERSHIP

IRELAND DONATES FIRST AMBULANCES TO DISTRICT

Two departments of the government in Cyprus have been caught in a battle over the ownership and administration of the country’s ambulance service.

Currently, the ambulance service falls under the administration of state health services (Okypy), which is part of the finance ministry, but the health ministry has in the last month argued that it should oversee the service.

A spokesperson for the finance ministry said they were in discussions with the health ministry over the future of the ambulance service but had reservations regarding the economic consequences of moving it to the health ministry’s remit.

The health ministry said: “Other countries in the EU which have equivalent healthcare systems have their ambulance service under the umbrella of their health ministries, and we believe it would be more correct if we followed that example.”

It is thought that Okypy earns around €16million per year through operating accident and emergency departments. This income plays a large role in ensuring the organisation’s solvency, and it is believed that transferring administration of the ambulance service to the health ministry would require the state to spend more on ensuring its survival.

SOUTH AFRICA SUSPECT ARRESTED IN AMBULANCE CREW HIJACK CASE A man who is suspected of the hijacking and robbery of an ambulance crew in Tshwane in July has finally been caught after months on the run. The suspect held up EMS personnel at gunpoint before tying them up in an abandoned shack and stealing their bank cards.

The next day, another crew was hijacked and robbed of their belongings and working tools in Brazzaville.

There have been several attacks on paramedics and ambulance workers in the area in recent months, and the health department hopes more arrests can be made.

“We welcome this development and hope it will lead to other arrests as this suspect was not working alone,” said Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko of the department.“In recent times, healthcare workers have found themselves under attack when doing their work in communities, leading to an outcry and a call for the law enforcement agencies to act swiftly in bringing perpetrators to book.”

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Ireland, in partnership with Doctors With Africa (CUAMM), has donated two ambulances to the Nabilatuk and Abim districts of Karamoja.

This will be the first time the area has had an ambulance service, with patients previously transported to hospitals and health centres in open vehicles such as pickup trucks.

District Health Officer Dr Peter Lokwang expressed his gratitude after receiving delivery of the ambulances at the Health Ministry HQ in Kampala, emphasizing that the nomadic nature of the people in the Karamoja region necessitates these vehicles.

It is hoped the ambulances will help reduce the very high child and maternal mortality rates in the region, which currently stand at 750 per 100,000.

Nabilatuk and Abim were identified

by CUAMM as having the greatest challenges in healthcare referral services due to the absence of ambulances.

Bizarrely, Minister of State for Health, Hanifa Kawooya Bangirana, urged the districts that received the ambulances to use them for their intended purposes, and cautioned against the misuse of ambulances for purposes such as “transporting charcoal and household necessities”.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

IRAQ

CROATIA

WEDDING FIRE KILLS 100

MAJOR OPERATION AT PLASTIC PLANT

At least 100 people died and a further 150 were seriously injured when a fire broke out at a packed wedding in northern Iraq in September.

It is thought that fireworks that were set off to celebrate the wedding caused the fire, but authorities believe illegal flammable building materials in the hall contributed to the disaster.

The fire happened in the Hamdaniya area of Nineveh province, a predominantly Christian area just outside the city of Mosul.

The death toll is predicted to rise as most of the injured had at least 60% burns on their bodies, according to reports.

UK MENTAL HEALTH PARAMEDICS INTRODUCED Paramedics specialising in mental health have been employed by Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) for the first time in the country.

The service will now double its number of dedicated mental health response vehicles from three to six, while two advanced paramedics have joined the team and specialist training has also been given to existing staff to help them support patients.

YAS receives around 140 calls per day about people in a mental health crisis, with more than 3,000 responses relating to people in crisis in the past year.

In 61% of cases, the crews were able to help the patient at home or within their community, meaning they didn’t have to attend A&E.

A massive fire at a plastic processing and storage facility in Osijek in October saw more than 300 firefighters deployed to tackle the blaze.

Staff worked quickly to extract 1,500 litres of sodium hydroxide and 1,000 litres of hydrochloride from the building, but huge clouds of toxic gas and smoke were seen to billow from the plant for miles around.

An initial 74 firefighters and 33 firefighting vehicles attended from the Osijek-Baranja County and surrounding volunteer fire brigades.

Firefighters and vehicles from other cities were also sent to extinguish the fire, bringing the total number of personnel to 316 with 131 vehicles, and 29 volunteer fire brigades. One firefighter was seriously injured.

GERMANY FAR-RIGHT INFILTRATES VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS Authorities in Germany fear the far-right group Alternative for Germany (AfD) has infiltrated the country’s volunteer fire departments.

There are 1.3million firefighters in Germany, with one million being volunteers, and because volunteer fire departments traditionally play a central role in communities, and are made up predominantly of white males, it is feared they are being targeted by extremists.

Former president of the German Fire Brigades Association Hartmut Ziebs claims at least 10,000 extremists have infiltrated volunteer fire departments, while a government report counts the figure as high as 34,000.

There has been an upsurge in extremist slogans and incidents in volunteer fire departments in recent years. An investigation by a German magazine discovered that in Leonberg, five firefighters chanted politically-charged slogans over the fire truck’s loudspeaker, a Berlin firefighter was fired after repeatedly making racist slurs towards fellow members, and one station in Cologne was found to have the birthdays of Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels and Eva Braun marked on their calendar.

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FIRECALL WINTER 2023

30/11/2023 12:05

BOOKSHELF

BOOK REVIEW

THIS SEASON’S BEST READS

THE GILLIGAN TAPES: IRELAND’S MOST NOTORIOUS CRIME BOSS IN HIS OWN WORDS

V

irgin Media faced a backlash when it chose to commission and air Confessions of a Crime Boss, the TV series based on journalist Jason O’Toole’s interviews with the notorious John Gilligan. Justice Minister Helen McEntee went on record to declare she wouldn’t be watching it, while the brother of murdered journalist Veronia Guerin understandably criticised and questioned the morality of airing it. Now, those interviews are laid out in stark if compelling black and white in O’Toole’s own book on the convicted criminal.

Over the course of 40 hours, he sat with and listened to Gilligan recount aspects of his life story, from his early days as a petty thief to becoming a major player in money laundering, drug dealing, and numerous other violent crimes, mixing with serious criminals including Martin ‘The General’ Cahill, Christy ‘The Dapper Don’ Kinahan, Patrick ‘Dutchy’ Holland and John ‘The Coach’ Traynor.

O’Toole explained upon publication that in writing this book, he would never let it veer towards glorified biography, and would not celebrate the life and crimes of Gilligan, but rather that he would discuss specific crimes, criminal set-ups and the gangland scene. As a result, we get a sometimes shocking, sometimes gruesome, but usually fascinating insight into how major criminals think, how they talk and act, and what drives them to pursue the lives they do.

The one question everyone wants answered is the extent of Gilligan’s involvement in the murder of Veronica Guerin, and O’Toole openly admits that he knew the convicted criminal would never admit to playing any part, but the book does see Gilligan divulge a huge amount of information regarding other crimes and people in a way not seen before.

Why did he agree to interviews in which he shares underworld secrets at this stage in his life? Rumoured to have millions secretly stashed away, it can’t be for any royalties. Admitting he thinks he is going to Hell,

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it can’t be for redemption. If it’s an attempt to find an appreciative audience of apprentice criminals, O’Toole is clear this isn’t the case, saying: “ The hope is that, if younger readers read this, who might otherwise be vulnerable to getting involved in that world, it will steer them away from a life of crime, because Gilligan repeatedly says in the book, crime does not pay. He feels he has wasted his life.”

Whatever the reason, whatever you think of Gilligan - Psychopath? Ruthless opportunist? Evil personified? - and whatever you think about the lives of criminals being given the coverage they get, this is a fascinating book that is well worth reading.

AUTHOR:

JASON O’TOOLE

PUBLISHER:

MERRION PRESS

AVAILABLE:

EASONS, HODGES & FIGGIS, DUBRAY

PRICE:

€18.99

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20/11/2023 14:07

BOOK REVIEW

WHO REALLY OWNS IRELAND?: HOW WE BECAME TENANTS IN OUR OWN LAND, AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT In Ireland, we love property and land. Our history has dictated that we have always sought to own it. But in today’s world, where Ireland has one of the highest average house prices in Europe, and rentals are sky-high, we might be excused for asking how this happened?

And if we are being priced out of the property market, who really owns it? In his latest book, Matt Cooper asks those questions, examining the key players behind the scenes of Irish property ownership to detail who really controls the valuable land where we live, work and play, and how they acquired it in the first place. He looks into foreign investment to explain why our little island is so appealing to it, and what it means for our ordinary citizens when the likes of shopping centres, data centres, wind farms and forestry belong to someone else. Excellently researched and explained, this is a compelling account of the Irish property landscape that makes for grim but eye-opening reading.

AUTHOR:

MATT COOPER

PUBLISHER:

GILL BOOKS

AVAILABLE:

EASONS, HODGES & FIGGIS, DUBRAY

PRICE:

€19.99

THE PROPHET AND THE IDIOT AUTHOR:

JONAS JONASSON

PUBLISHER:

4TH ESTATE

AVAILABLE:

EASONS, HODGES & FIGGIS, DUBRAY

PRICE:

€12.99

There are few authors who can repeatedly master the combination of off-beat humour and touching drama, but Swedish journalist and author Jonas Jonasson is one. His debut novel The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared is a modern classic, and he followed it up with superb storytelling in The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden, and Hitman Anders and The Meaning Of It All, among others. His sixth novel, The Prophet and The Idiot, is another great read full of memorably quirky characters who find themselves in strange circumstances. Petra, a self-taught astrophysicist, believes she knows when the world will end, and together with doomsday prophet Johan and 75-year-old widow Agnes, who lives a double life as an online teenage influencer, they race across Europe trying to make the most of the time they have left. A very funny, touching and feel-good adventure you won’t want to put down.

A HISTORY OF RUGBY IN LEINSTER With the Rugby World Cup just finished, we can expect a deluge of books on the subject in the near future, and with so many of its stars shining at the tournament in France, now is the perfect time for this history of Leinster Rugby to come out. As one of the most successful and influential sporting clubs in Ireland, the history of this institution that was established in 1879 is as fascinating as it is stellar. Detailing the rich history from the club’s foundation, through the sport’s amateur years, to its more recent unprecedented success on the national and European stage, this book also examines rugby’s relationships with politics and class in Ireland.

The author also ruminates on the influence Leinster Rugby, its players and its philosophy have had on education, business and politics throughout the province and the country in general, but at its heart, this book is a celebration of not just the successes, but the club’s enduring commitment to teamwork, integrity and community.

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AUTHOR:

DR DAVID DOOLIN

PUBLISHER:

MERRION PRESS

AVAILABLE:

EASONS, HODGES & FIGGIS, DUBRAY

PRICE:

€24.99

FIRECALL WINTER 2023

20/11/2023 14:07

TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS

TECHNOLOGY

THE LATEST INNOVATIONS FOR THE WORLD’S EMERGENCY SERVICES

E

NEXT-GEN HANDS-FREE CAMERA

mergency equipment specialists Dräger have developed a new hands-free thermal imaging camera that displays live action imagery.

The UCF FireCore affords continuous vision in low-visibility, high-risk environments.

Certified to IP67, it is resistant to water and dust and contains lithium-ion batteries for longer operational duration.

Designed for use within the company’s specially-designed full face mask, it can also be fitted to any model, shape or size of helmet using a simple bracket, and is fully detachable, allowing firefighters to extend their vision in difficult to reach areas and around corners.

Near Field Communication technology enables the cameras to connect to an inmask display or transfer from one helmet to another.

Liz Milward, marketing manager for the Emergency Services and Rescue Services at Dräger Safety UK, said: “By providing thermal imaging technology inside the masks of firefighters, potential dangers can be spotted far more easily. Firefighters will also be able to operate ‘hands-free’ and, as a result, support emergency operations with far greater efficiency and reduced risk.”

AFFORDABLE FIREFIGHTING ROBOT There are numerous firefighting robots on the market in recent years, but one entrepreneur and student from the University of Texas has developed possibly the most affordable one to date.

FireBot is the result of four years of work by Siddarth Thakur, who was inspired by the death of a firefighter in Dallas in 2013 to develop a tool that would replace the need for firefighters to enter unsafe buildings without prior knowledge of the environment.

Made from special alloys and cooling technologies, it can withstand temperatures up to 1,000C and flames up to 10 feet high, can be remotely controlled using a smartphone.

Whereas other firefighting robots on the market, such as the Thermite RS3, can cost around €250,000, FireBot will be priced at around €80,000, and will be available for purchase or lease through a Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model.

It will also have a lifespan of ten years.

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TECHNOLOGY

FLYING AMBULANCE ON WAY

A flying ambulance designed to reach speeds of almost 300mp/h that can get to emergency sites within minutes has secured funding from the US Air Force, and could be on the market by 2027.

Californian firm Jump Aero designed the emissions-free JA1 Pulse vehicle to help medical professionals carrying critical lifesaving equipment arrive at the scenes of remote emergencies as quickly as possible.

The firm has already secured its first commercial order from the Danish Falck Ambulance Services, who said the product will “revolutionise the future of emergency services”.

The JA1 Pulse has a maximum capacity of 330lbs (150kgs), so is capable of flying one trained pilot-medic carrying emergency equipment such as a heart monitor, automated CPR machine and oxygen supply. The pilot will also be equipped with a parachute designed to provide backup in case of emergencies.

It will have simplified flight controls to help the pilot fly the aircraft without high levels of training.

As it is not designed to carry patients, the JA1 Pulse will obviously not replace the traditional ambulance, but can access areas far ore quickly while waiting for more lifesaving personnel to arrive.

The US Air Force has already signed a contract worth €3.5million and promised a further €3.5m to fund the first prototype.

DRAG STRAP UNVEILED A tool invented by firefighters in Kansas City, Missouri, has been developed by Suppression Gear Inc, with the recent unveiling of the VIKCTIM Drag Strap, an innovative lifesaving tool that sims to increase efficiency at rescue operations.

The Drag Strap addresses the challenges of difficult to move injured people by providing an integrated, secure, easy to use method of grabbing and transporting them with speed and safety.

Its unique design allows for effortless integration into most existing firefighting PPE, offering an immediately applicable, costeffective solution for enhancing rescue operations.

“The VIKCTIM Drag Strap doesn’t just make our jobs easier, it fundamentally improves the chances for victims in rescue scenarios,” says Chad Dailey, inventor and a firefighter with 32 years of experience. “By enhancing grip strength and stability, we’re able to act more quickly, ultimately providing a faster and safer rescue for those in dire situations.”

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Empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life

With 1,600 people working across five sites in Ireland, Viatris provides access to medicines, develops innovative solutions and improves healthcare for patients.

Viatris Newenham Court, Malahide Road, Dublin 17, Dublin, Ireland.

Viatris.ie Job Code: CC-2023-001 Date of Preparation: July 2023 www.viatris.ie

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If you smell gas at home or on the street...

Open windows and doors Don’t smoke, vape or use a naked flame Don’t unplug or switch anything electrical on or off Turn off the gas at the meter Then, no matter who your gas supplier is, call our 24 hour emergency service.

Don’t use a phone in the immediate area of the leak, use a neighbour’s or call from outside.

If you can’t get through, call 999 or 112. In the interests of public safety all emergency calls are recorded.

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01/12/2023 28/09/2023 11:46 19/12/2022 15:52 29/04/2021 10:20 14:33