New Order of Malta Unit for Donegal Town

The Ambulance Corps of Order of Malta Ireland is setting up a new unit in Donegal Town. “This will be a new project for the people of Donegal Town” say Commandant Martin Gallagher the Regional Director for the North Western Region.
“This will be the first Ambulance Corps unit in Donegal Town and will provide the Order with a new base in Co. Donegal and finally we are seeing a spread into our ever growing and developing country communities. The Order has a presence in most counties in Ireland both North and South and now after almost 70 years in existence the Ambulance Corps is moving to Donegal Town”.
In 1938, the Order of Malta established a unit in Galway to provide First Aid, Ambulance and Casualty Services in Connaught. Today the Order of Malta is a nationally based voluntary organisation divided into unit areas, and structured into nine regions. It has a fleet of over 135 vehicles and ambulances and provides first aid, ambulance and emergency care services in most of the principal cities and towns throughout the island of Ireland.
Comdt. Gallagher explains, “The Order of Malta provides many services around Ireland and here, in Donegal Town we hope to provide First Aid, Community Care and Youth Development Services to the local and surrounding community. We will develop a senior unit first and provide them with training in the areas of First Aid, Automated External Defibrillation to assist a patient whose heart has stopped, Emergency First Responder & Ambulance Aid to help people who are in the need of emergency assistance and Home Nursing skills with the provision of establishing a major Community Care Project in the area. Hopefully next year we will then establish a Cadet Unit”
The Order of Malta Cadets (Junior Section of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps) is a national voluntary youth organisation with a membership of about 2000 young people organised in units throughout Ireland. The Cadet Corps caters for younger people aged between 10 and 16. These young people are trained in many aspects of first aid and home nursing as well as getting involved in many other activities that are part of the Cadet programme including social activities and Cadet camps.
Comdt. Gallagher adds, “We are having an information day in the Central Hotel in Donegal Town on the 6th of June from 2 to 6 PM. People who are interested in getting involved with us are invited to come along and see the work of the Ambulance Corps. There will also be an opportunity to meet existing Order of Malta members who will be willing to share their experiences. Vol. Gary Brennan has been appointed as the new Officer in Charge in Donegal Town and he will also be there that evening.”
For people who can’t make this information night Gary can be contacted by email at donegal@orderofmalta.ie or on 085 7895441.