AROUND A THOUSAND members of the emergency services have taken part in a parade through Dublin city this afternoon.
The annual Frontline Emergency and Security Services Eire Forum (Fessef) parade is a celebration of the important work the nation’s frontline workers carry out every day, and a chance for them to thank the public for their support.
The event is “gaining in momentum every year,” Garda Chief Superintendent Kevin Gralton, who is on the board of Fessef, said at the launch of the parade.
“Frontline workers are out there to serve the public and that’s what we do as an organisation – always have and always will – and that’s what all the other services do as well. Days like this are always very positive because it creates more interagency activity and cooperation and it fosters one-to-one relationships when required.
But this is a children’s day, really. All children like sirens and bells and lights and that sort of thing and that’s what we do it for.
Organisations like the gardaí, Dublin Fire Brigade and the Civil Defence have been tweeting about their involvement and uploading photos and videos today.
This year, Fessef added an event to the weekend with a concert at the Pro-Cathedral.
A musical tribute was paid last night to those members who have given their lives in the line of duty – in particular those who have died in recent times, including the crew of Coast Guard helicopter R116, the Coast Guard’s Catriona Lucas, Garda Tony Golden and Garda Adrian Donohoe.
The parade, which started at Parnell Square, proceeded down O’Connell Street and over the bridge to Trinity College, where there a number of displays and demonstrations were due to take place – concluding at 4pm.
- With reporting by Michelle Hennessy
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