Mallow Search and Rescue 13 to be honoured
MORE than a dozen members of the Mallow Search and Rescue Unit will be honoured for their selfless dedication to duty over the past decade-and-a-half.
The 13-strong contingent from Mallow will be presented with 15-year long service medals by Environment Minister Alan Kelly during a ceremony at Dublin Castle next Tuesday.
Established three decades ago the Mallow Search and Rescue unit underwent a major revamp in 2000 and is now widely regarded as one of the most professional and effective units of its kind in the country with more than 30 active members.
Unit assistant PRO John Paul Merritt told the Corkman is was rare for so many personnel from one group to be honoured with long service medals at the same time.
“It is highly unusual to see that level of commitment over such a long period of time. We have been lucky here in Mallow to have been able to retain our core strength over the years, which has made us stronger as a unit,” said John Paul.
The unit’s ongoing commitment to training and improving its sphere of operations has resulted in it becoming one of the busiest in the country – despite the fact that it is run on a totally voluntary basis.
The fact that it has the only operational C-Max Side Scanner in Ireland outside of the military has seen the unit take part in recovery and rescues missions across the length and breadth of the country.
This year alone the unit has been tasked to more than 30 calls, some of which require personnel to stay away from their homes for days on end.
“We are one of the only units in the country that has our own trained divers, boats and a scanner and all training and operations are undertaken in member’s spare time and during leave from their respective jobs,” said John Paul.
“It is wonderful to see that commitment being honoured through these long-service medals,” he added.
John Paul said the awards were also testament to the generosity of the people of Mallow and north Cork, whose financial support over the years has been instrumental to the unit’s success.
“It costs around €60,000 per annum to run the unit and as we only receive a small amount of statutory funding, 90% of that total is raised locally through events such as our annual raft run and Christmas swim,” he said.
“Not only do these awards next Tuesday honour the individuals receiving them, they also honour the people of Mallow and the surroundings areas who have given us so much support over the years and will hopefully continue to do so into the future,” said John Paul.