Cavan Hosts Civil Defence Officers’ Association annual conference

Over 300 Civil Defence Officers, Assistant Civil Defence Officers, and volunteers from across Ireland converged on the Farnham Estate Hotel and Golf Resort in County Cavan for the annual Civil Defence Officers’ Association (CDOA) conference and training event on 8th and 9th November.

The conference was officially opened on Wednesday morning by Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Councillor Philip Brady, before attendees were addressed by Peter Burke TD, Minister of State with Responsibility for EU Affairs and Defence, and Eoin Doyle, Acting Chief Executive, Cavan County Council.

Across the two-day event, panel discussions and talks from leading experts were delivered on diverse topics including ‘The Patient Voice’, ‘Strategic Emergency Planning and the Importance of Civil Defence to National Resilience’, ‘Civil Defence, Towards 2030’, ‘Ukrainian Action Ireland- Answering the Call in a Humanitarian Crisis Born out of War”, ‘Understanding Dementia’, and ‘Critical Incident Stress Management and its Importance’.

A trade show featuring 34 stalls from exhibitors displaying the latest in rescue equipment and technology provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to keep abreast of developments in this area.

Ms Jacqui McCrum, Secretary General at Department of Defence delivered a pre-dinner address at the conference’s gala dinner, which was followed by entertainment from acclaimed local talents The Highstool Prophets and Kevin McGahern.

John Maguire, current CDOA Chairperson and Civil Defence Officer with Cavan Civil Defence said “I was delighted to welcome my Civil Defence colleagues to Cavan for our annual conference. We welcomed an illuminating and entertaining line-up of speakers and exhibitors and, as is always the case at this conference, we enjoyed excellent peer learning opportunities. I have no doubt that Civil Defence Officers across Ireland will be bringing the learnings from this conference back to their home counties.”

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Philip Brady, said, “The professionalism, skill, and dedication of Civil Defence volunteers is second to none and greatly appreciated by the people of Ireland. I commend the membership of the Civil Defence Officers’ Association and the wonderful Civil Defence volunteers for the fantastic work that you do in communities the length and breadth of the country”.

Acting Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Mr Eoin Doyle said “Civil Defence represents the best of us, always putting the needs of the community and the most vulnerable among us first. We are justifiably proud of our Civil Defence volunteers here in Cavan, who were named ‘Emergency Response Team of the Year’ in the LAMA Awards 2022, and with that in mind, it was particularly pleasing to welcome the Civil Defence Officers’ Association conference to Cavan this week. I applaud Civil Defence Officer John Maguire, Assistant Civil Defence Officer Carmel Prior and the CDOA executive for their efforts in organising such a successful conference”.

Caption 1: Civil Defence Officers’ Association Chair, and Cavan Civil Defence Officer, John Maguire (front, centre) pictured with Civil Defence Officers and Assistant Civil Defence Officers from across Ireland, along with National Chaplain Fr Seán McDermott at the Annual Civil Defence Officers’ Association conference, which took place at Farnham Estate and Golf Resort, Cavan from 8-9 November. PHOTO: Adrian Donohoe.

Caption 2: Front row left to right: Carmel Prior, Assistant Civil Defence Officer; John Maguire, Civil Defence Officer, Eithne Gurhy. Middle Row: Teresa McGovern, June Leddy, Cavan Fire Service HQ; Hannah Martin; Mary Callery; Verona Fitzpatrick; Susan Smith; Christina Brady; Neil Doherty; Bríd Cahill; Francis Brady; Nigel McDowell. Back row: John McDermott, retired Civil Defence Officer; Fr Sean McDermott; Paul Cooney; Oisín Donohoe