National Services Day is being marked with a number of parades across the country to recognise the work of frontline staff in emergency, health, security, and volunteer services.
Parades involving gardaí, the National Ambulance Service, the fire services, the Coast Guard, Civil Defence teams, the Red Cross, the Order of Malta, a number of mountain and cliff rescue teams, as well as blood bike teams and suicide help groups took part in parades in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Castlebar, Castleblayney, Kilkenny and Wexford.
The first Saturday in September was designated as National Services Day by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in 2018 as a day of recognising and thanking those who serve communities throughout the country. He said they were the lifeblood of civic engagement when danger presents to any citizens, and to whom so many across the country are indebted.
The Covid pandemic prevented parades taking place across the country over the past two years, but hundreds of those involved in the services took part today in both marching groups as well as a parade of rescue vehicles and ambulances.
Limerick city hosted its first national services parade this afternoon, and members of the public cheered them on as they passed through the city.
The end of the parade was marked by a flyover by the Rescue 115 helicopter which is based at Shannon.
Those frontline workers said the Covid pandemic has placed them and their services under severe pressure, but the crisis also showed how adaptive they were, how volunteers were always ready to take on extra duties, and how they continued also to train to keep up and expand their expertise.
Danny O'Connor of the Limerick Fire Service said the pandemic brought a whole new set of circumstances to their daily work, with trying to protect their teams and at the same time continuing to help members of the public who were under threat.
Cecilia O'Flaherty who heads up the Civil Defence teams in Limerick said the Covid pandemic tested all health, security and rescue services, but it also showed how they adapted quickly to the restrictions placed on them.
It meant volunteer teams were readily available, and she said they took up new training when they could throughout the pandemic.
Today gave all those teams a chance to meet the public to engage with them in a non-emergency situation.
Ger O'Dea, who is Community Engagement Manager with the National Ambulance Service said: "This year is particularly important for us as it is the first set of unrestricted events since the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
"We want to use the events this year to especially remember all those we lost and those who were affected in so many ways."
National Services Day is a day of remembrance and celebration and we're asking the public to show their support for our frontline, emergency and security staff," he added.
