General News

National Services Day Recognition

The NRFA is delighted to announce it’s invitation to take part in the National Services Day in Ireland 2020.

Background:

Seamus O’Neill, a retired school principal never forgot the support local Frontline Service workers gave to his school.

 “We’d had no money in the school and the army and the guards used to play football matches to fundraise for us. So in 2013 I was looking around and there was nothing in the State that recognised the work that the emergency and security services were doing.”

He decided to do something about it. He pulled together volunteers from all the Frontline Services to form a non-profit organisation: FESSEF. Their mission would be to create events for the public to show their appreciation, while fostering greater collaboration between their services.

“I thought this would be one way of giving recognition to these individuals for the work they were doing”

Seamus O’Neill Chairperson FESSEF

Up until now, the representatives of the Fire Service that had taken part in the National Services Day parade were full time brigades based in Dublin. These included both DFB and Dublin Airport Fire Service. We questioned why the retained were not taking part, nor why were we informed of such a day. To our surprise, the retained brigades ‘were’ actually informed through their county managers but the message never transcended down to the front line members. It was not until our inquiry that we, the National Retained Firefighters Association, were able to secure the retained brigades representation in the 2020 parade.

In an email from Mr. O’Neill to ourselves he outlined:

“As Chairperson of FESSEF and National Services Day I on behalf of the Forum would like to formally invite the NRFA to join our forum. Our next meeting will be held on Friday the 29th. We hope that you will be able to send a representative to this.

SOME NOTES

(1) MEDAL

At your convenience if you could let me know how many medals you will require. All serving and past members of all voluntary and statutory services are entitled to purchase the medal if they so desire) **PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION ON MEDALS”

(2) PARADE AND DISPLAY, DINNER

PARADE

National Services Day as declared by an Taoiseach is set for the 1st. Saturday in September annually. Therefore the parade and display next year will be held on the 5th.Sep.

The parade will assemble in Parnell Sq. and depart at 12 noon sharp THE PARADE ROUTE IS DOWN O’CONNELL ST, INTO WESTMORELAND ST., UP DAME ST. AND INTO DUBLIN CASTLE

DISPLAY

All services are invited to mount a display in Dublin Castle which begins at 11.am and finishes at 3.30pm.

DINNER

Our gala dinner will be held on Saturday night the 5th of Sept in the Mansion house. DRESS : BLACK TIE/DRESS UNIFORM TICKET PRICE €60

(3) CONCERT

Our annual gala concert will be held on Saturday the 29th. August 2020. 

(4) Inter services golf competition

An inter services golf competition will be held in Westmanstown G.C. on Friday the 4th. Sep. Services are entitled to enter 2 teams

(5) ART EXHIBITION Members of all services who would like to submit paintings for an art exhibition which will run for the week commencing Sat 29th August. More details of this event to follow. “

THIS WILL BE THE LAST YEAR WHEREBY NATIONAL SERVICE DAY MEDALS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE.

We are in the process of discussing what is the best way logistically of organising the medals however we will keep you updated when we know. The cost will be €20 plus €4 delivery charge.

We are delighted to have been in touch with Mr. O’Neill, as was he of us getting in touch with him, to have the retained represented within the parade. We, at this time, wish to thank Mr. O’Neill for his efforts previous in trying to gain the attention of the retained brigades for this great day. It is a while away yet however we have gotten the ball rolling and will organise nearer the time with regards representation from each station/ brigade/ county etc.

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