The East Clare branch of the Red Cross was formed in January 1998 after 26 people from the local community completed a first aid course. There hadn’t been a branch in East Clare for a number of years and it was unanimously decided to get a branch up and running. Since then, we have had a number of people come and go due to changes in their circumstances.

Our A.G.M. was held on the 26th of January 2007 in the Mountshannon Hotel. The new committee was elected as follows:

Chairperson:
Grainne Kenneally
Vice Chairperson:
Bernadette Dillon
Secretary:
Gertie Glennon
Treasurer:
Sharon Haycock
P.R.O.:
Jane Murray
Youth Officer:
Catherine Liddane
Auditor:
Mary Margaret Fahy
Emergency Officer:
Anna Wallace
Auditor:
Kath Gutteridge

We are always looking for new members and anyone interested can join us at any time. Some members like to stay in the background and help out at sale of works and church gate collections, others become unit members and go out on duty to provide first aid whenever we are requested. The summer is usually our busiest time with horseshows, matches, athletics etc. most Sundays. At the same time, there is never pressure put on anyone to go on a duty.

Besides first aid courses, the Red Cross provides carer’s courses, therapeutic handcare and babysitting courses. Red Cross members can further their knowledge and go on to be intermediate first aiders, first responders and first aid instructors.

Our branch usually meet on a Thursday night in the local Community Hall at 8 pm. Intermediate training takes place on a Friday night in Ennis, as does first responder training on a Thursday night.

For more information, you can contact:

Grainne @ 086 1215110
Bernadette @ 087 9725012
Gertie @ 061 927099
Sharon @ 086 4098688

Recent developments:

Last year, we managed to purchase a resuscitation mannequin and trainer defibrillator by the branch to aid ongoing training and with the intention of hopefully attracting interest from new members.

Last year, the branch also participated in a fundraising scheme, set up by Red Cross Head Office, to purchase the defibrillator and to finance the training of members of the surrounding area in the use of it. The branch was also given the opportunity to buy a second defibrillator and train a further group of interested locals. It is envisaged that in the coming months there will be a defibrillator in both Mountshannon and in Whitegate and hopefully we will have in the region of 20 to 25 people trained in its proper usage

Training will resume in the next couple of weeks in the Hall on Thursday night at 8 pm.

Iniscealtra Gun Club held a very successful Karaoke night in the Bridge Bar recently and their intention is to donate some of the money raised on the night to the branch towards the purchase of the second defibrillator.