Dunshaughlin Fire Service stalwarts bid farewell to brigade

The teamwork amongst colleagues and service to the public are the outstanding memories that two Dunshaughlin Fire Service officers will hold, following their retirements last week. Driver-mechanic Donal O'Sullivan, who has 35 year's service, and sub-officer Dave Robinson, who was with the Dunshaughlin service for almost a decade, were honoured by their colleagues at a function in Caffrey's of Batterstown. Dave Robinson, who runs the popular Rathbeggan Lakes farm and fishing facility, looks back upon his time with the brigade as a great experience, with good teamwork where people used their initiative, particularly in difficult situations. "You could be out at all hours of the night, and the best part was the appreciation of the public of the work," he said. "There were only a few who took us for granted." He regrets leaving the work, which he has done for nine years, but said he wants to dedicate more time to his family, and wasn't able to commit to both. "It was something I always wanted to so, and jumped at the opportunity when I saw them recruiting almost 10 years ago," said Mr Robinson. Donal O'Sullivan, from Bonestown, joined the fire service in May 1974. "My first and last call-outs involved fatalities," he recollected. "A road traffic accident and an ambulance assist on a heart attack, but it's better to remember the positive times," he added. "We had good times and bad times." He looks back on all the various life-saving courses they undertook, as well as the opening of the new fire station in Dunshaughlin in 1978. Christy Foley, father of the present station officer, Paul Foley, was the station officer then, with Arnold Blake as sub-officer, and they operated from a yard behind Foley's Forge. When he started, the tender was a 1952 Dennis S8, which he later restored, followed by a Bedford Angus, a Dennis, Mercedes and, three years ago, a new Scania appliance. There was ongoing changes in technology and engines over this period. "The greatest satisfaction was saving people's lives in road traffic accidents, and agricultural and industrial accidents," he said. He never actually was in a position of having to save a life in a blaze. Fionan Blake is taking over as sub-officer, and Phil Bevan as driver-mechanic. Donal O'Sullivan and Dave Robinson both handed over their uniform epaulettes to the new officers at the function in Batterstown, which also saw members of the local Garda Siochana make a presentation to their Fire Service colleagues.