ORDER
OF MALTA AMBULANCE CORPS
ATHY UNIT
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ORDER
OF MALTA AMBULANCE CORPS ATHY UNIT |
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The Athy unit was formed in 1950 following a series of first aid classes held in the town. Among the early members were Johnny Watchorn, Paddy Timpson, Eamon and Maura Mc Cauley and Kevin Fingleton. The unit met in various locations around the town in the early years, including a premises at the back of Stanhope Street and a disused grain store by the canal. The unit quickly became active in providing first aid classes for the public which proved to be popular. From these classes a number of new members were recruited, including Tony Dunne and Mick Ryan.
Throughout the 1960’s the unit continued to meet in various locations around the town, providing instruction in first aid and in home nursing for the public. Links were also formed with other organisations in the town which led to joint projects which continued for many years, these included involvement with the Care of the Elderly and also with the fledgling Irish Wheelchair Association. Around this time also, the members began providing a first aid team for the night pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick. This tradition has continued to this day and the unit still send a team each year to provide first aid for pilgrims on the mountain. A cadet unit was established in the 1950's. Tony Dunne was the cadetmaster. Michael Robinson, a cadet in the late 1950's now living in Brisbane, recently made contact through the website to say that he remebered practising footdrill in the yard of the old CBS in John's Lane. The highlight for cadets at this time was providing first aid at the Grove Cinema on a Sunday. Michael mentioned one cadet, who at the time didn't let his responsibilities interfere with his primary aim, snogging in the back row of the balcony. As well as their amorous adventures, the cadets were trained to a high standard of first aid and finished second in an All-Ireland first aid competition held in Navan in 1957. Michael kindly sent a copy of his first aid voucher from this time. Several members of the senior unit served over the years as cadet master, including Tony Dunne, Paul Herterich and Mick Bambrick. The early 70’s was also a landmark time in that the unit took possession of their first ambulance, a Ford Transit van, which the members converted. Compared to the vehicles available in the Ambulance Corps today, it was prehistoric, but it was none the less a major advance for the unit. The stretchers used were canvas/wood, mounted on a wooden platform, patient comfort was not a major priority ! However, by 1976 the unit had obtained a purpose-built Commer ambulance for first aid duties and a VW minibus for community based duties such as transporting people to Mass and to Wheelchair Association social events. |
The unit did not have an ambulance, but
this in no way hampered their objective of providing first aid coverage at local and not
so local events. If their presence was required outside the town area, a car was hired to
bring them to the duty. The unit went from strength to strength and maintained a high
profile in the town, providing honour guards for various parades and church functions.
This photo from the archive shows the unit members in the late 1950’s providing an
honour guard for a visiting church dignitary.