The new fire station for Urlingford was officially opened by Minister Darragh O’Brien, Minister for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in the presence of Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael Doyle and a large gathering of invited guests on Wednesday 29th May 2024.
The old fire station in Urlingford had been in operation since the early 1970’s and was unable to cope with the demands of a modern fire and rescue service. The new facility provides for a two-bay station with a training yard, canteen and staff facilities. Specific training installations include a drill tower, an underground water tank and breathing apparatus compressor room.
Minister Darragh O’Brien said “My Department has been and continues to work with Kilkenny County Council, upgrading and developing the facilities and equipment of Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service. Over the last number of years my Department has fully funded new fire stations in Graiguenamanagh, Castlecomer and Freshford and has committed to the development of a new Fire Station for Kilkenny City. This level of support is continuing with the approval of €2.1m in funding for the construction of a new fire station at Urlingford.”
The existence of a professional fire and rescue service is fundamental to public and personal safety. The Fire Service plays a crucial role in making our communities safer, whether it be preventing and protecting people from fire and other risks or responding swiftly and effectively to the incidents and emergencies that occur 24 hrs per day/7 days per week/365 days per year.
The majority of fire deaths continue to occur in domestic premises and Kilkenny County Council is encouraging people to ensure they fit and maintain a working smoke alarm in their home.
Cathaoirleach Michael Doyle congratulated all associated with the provision of the new fire station in Urlingford, it is an invaluable piece of public infrastructure for the local communities of north Kilkenny, Tipperary and Laois and extended his best wishes for the future to the personnel who will work from it.
The Urlingford project has been delivered on time by McStan Construction, Purcellsinch Business Park, Kilkenny and designed by Martin Peters and Associates, Ormonde Road, Kilkenny.
Minister O’ Brien said “The station is a credit to all involved in its development and completion.”
Kilkenny County Council continues to invest in its Fire Service. Urlingford Fire Brigade took delivery of a new fire engine at a cost of just over €450,000 and another fire engine is being built for Freshford Fire Brigade.
John Collins Chief Fire Officer “our recent experiences of severe weather events illustrated very clearly the value and reassurance that a highly skilled and competent fire brigade brings to the community while working with the principal blue light services of which many of them are here today ”.
In addition to high levels of training and competence amongst our firefighters, he pointed out how important it is that the stations, fleet and equipment in place for those firefighters is up to the very highest standard and fit for the purpose of running a modern fire and rescue service.
In officially opening this high standard and modern fire station in Urlingford, the fire service being delivered to the people of North Kilkenny and neighbouring counties has been strengthened into the future.