Limerick Civil Defence volunteers honoured at awards celebrating their decades of service

VOLUNTEERS will Limerick Civil Defence volunteers were honoured by the organisation as it marked a year of training, community support and long-serving dedication at its annual awards ceremony.

Held at the Civil Defence base on the Dock Road, the event recognised volunteers who have given years and in some cases decades of service to the people of Limerick.

Among the standout honours was the 40-year Long Service Medal presented to Paul O’Grady, acknowledging four decades of commitment, as well as a 30-year medal for Oriena Linehan. Volunteers who have achieved 10 years and 20 years of service were also recognised.

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Civil Defence Officer Cecilia O’Flaherty said the night was “the culmination of all the training that the volunteers have done in the past 12 months,” noting that this year saw the largest intake since Covid.

“We had 20 new volunteers join. They’ve gone through basic training and moved on to specific disciplines. Tonight is about celebrating the time they’ve given freely to the community,” she said.

The ceremony also honoured 30 volunteers who completed more than 10 certified courses in 2024/2025. Commemorative medals were presented to those who could not attend the organisation’s recent 75th anniversary celebration at University College Cork.

PICTURE: Marie Keating

Limerick Civil Defence supports frontline emergency services during severe weather, flooding, major accidents, fires, and missing-person searches. Volunteers are trained across multiple disciplines including casualty care, search and rescue, radiation monitoring, and auxiliary fire service.

One of the newest members, Dylan Pierce, spoke about why he joined. “I’ve always wanted to help people,” he said. “In the year since joining, I’ve made great friends and learned so much. When it’s time to work, everyone pulls their weight.”

Dylan encouraged others to consider joining: “Go for it. You won’t realise the difference it makes to your life until you do.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme