A FITTING SEND-OFF

A Great Evening Saw 24 Retired Members of DFB Sports and Social Club Honoured for their Service, writes Paul McCann

With Friday, 17 February agreed as the date for the 2023 Retirement Ceremony, preparations began in earnest once again to ensure a successful and memorable event.

e Organising Team of Dan Fynes, Simon Finglas, Ray Campion, John Connolly and Paul McCann set about booking e Castleknock Hotel and contacting all the recent retired sta to invite them to the event. Ger Ryan arranged the printing of invitations and, with assistance from the 5th Floor, sent the invites to all 24 Retirees, inviting them and their chosen guests to this special night. e event allows DFB Sports and Social Club the opportunity to acknowledge the retirees’ careers, and also to acknowledge their families and the support they have also provided over the years. e Chief Fire O cer Denis Keeley and Assistant Chief Fire e Committee arranged entertainment for the evening, including a Band (Electric Blue) and Joe the Magician, with owers (provided by Gra on Flowers) for the wives and partners, and ensured everything was in place to provide for a great night. All that was needed was for everyone to turn up… and they did!

O cers, together with the Retired Members Association, were also invited to attend.

Party

All guests were invited to arrive for a drinks reception in the foyer of the hotel, and this also allowed for a meet and greet and catch-up with old friends.

All guests except the 24 Retirees took their seats in the Function Room. Once everyone was in place, the Pipe Band started up their distinctive sound, and preceded the Retirees into the Function Room, creating a fantastic sense of occasion as always.

is group of 24 Retirees had accumulated more than 800 years of service to Dublin Fire Brigade between them, so it is very tting that this commitment and dedication was acknowledged and commemorated.

Honours

With the meal over, it was time for the o cial business of the night. Chief Fire O cer Dennis Keeley provided a very sincere thanks to all the Retirees. He then presented each Retiree with a very special statuette, which was specially commissioned by DFB Sport and Social Club, and individually made and numbered by Irish Artist Barry Ormond. e statuette depicts a Dublin Fire ghter rescuing two children from a re at the turn of the century, wearing the original DFB uniform. It is only made for the Club, so a very special piece to signify the Retirees’ long and successful career with DFB.

Ray McGonagle was also in attendance, to ensure each Retiree will have an o cial photograph to mark the occasion. Tommy Doyle, founding Member of DFB Sports and Social Club, was also presented with a commemorative 50th Anniversary Medal on the night, acknowledging his hard work, dedication and commitment to the Association over so many years as he steps down from his role as Retired Members Rep. Tommy’s commitment and dedication to the Club will very de nitely be missed.

Thanks

A night of music, dancing and fun continued until the early hours, and no one was in a hurry to go home. A special thanks to Guy ompson, Syed, Niamh and Andrew and the sta of the Castleknock Hotel for their excellent service, nothing was too much trouble and they went out of their way to accommodate any requests made of them.

e Organising Team were also very