Firemen honoured for 80 years’ service

November 1998

THREE Wicklow firemen with eighty years’ service between them were this week honoured by the Minister of the Environment and Local Government, Noel Dempsey.

Seamus Grace, Station officer and Dunlavin, and Laurence Kenny, Station Officer at Arklow, both have thirty years’ service while John DeCourcy, Station Officer at Wicklow, has notched up twenty.

The three were among firemen from all over the country honoured at the ceremony which was held in Dublin.

Those with twenty years’ in the fire service were awarded medals and certificates, while those with 30 years’ service were in addition awarded a special emblem, in the form of a flame, and a certificate. The medal bears the traditional mark of the fire service, a helmet and crossed axes, while the ribbon bears the national colours with the red colour representing the fire brigade service.

Minister Dempsey praised those receiving the awards for their unselfish devoted community service, and their bravery in carrying out their duties.

‘ Throughout the years, individuals working together in brigades have shown the dedication and courage which has provided the State with a skilled resource that any community would be proud of ’, he stated.