The National Retained Firefighters Association will commemorate fire personnel who have died in active service.
This momentous occasion will see the first awarding of the 1916 commemoration medals to fire service personnel in Ireland. Families of six firefighters who died in active service will be presented with the 1916 medals by Damien English T.D., Minister for Housing and Urban Development.
The NRFA have organised the special presentations which will take place on Saturday December 1st at 3.45pm at the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
The deceased firefighters who will be remembered on the day and whose families will be presented with the medals are, in no particular order;
- Station Officer, Fitter/Mechanic Patrick ‘Rock’ O’Reilly, Cavan Town, Co. Cavan;
- Station Officer Neil McGee, Loughrea, Co. Galway;
- Firefighter Joe Kelly, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal;
- Firefighter Michael Liston, Foynes, Co. Limerick and
- Firefighters Mark O’Shaughnessy and Brian Murray from Bray, Co.Wicklow.
Funeral of Firefighter Michael Liston, Foynes, Co. Limerick on 28/02/2007. (Photo: Declan Keogh / Emergency Times)
The NRFA have said that while some of the aforementioned named fire personnel did not die through active service, however served during 2016, the time of Centenary Medal presentations to other forces throughout the country.
For the NRFA, this is an immense achievement to have been able to seek and achieve the deserved award for Firefighters through all means necessary and it is their hope to ensure that local and national communities, recognise both the fallen Firefighters and the current serving members.
