of Carraroe’s new fire station took place on Tuesday .
Located at the Udarás industrial estate in Carraroe, the station is operated by nine firefighters who previously accompanied Clifden and city crews on call outs before the facility opened for first time in February after a 20 year campaign.
The station serves a population of 10,000 people which covers the area from Spiddal to Maam Cross as well as providing emergency services to the Aran Islands.
To date the brigade have been alerted to 49 incidents.
Chief fire officer of County Galway Michael Rafferty said at the opening of the facility, “This new fire station will represent an enhancement of Galway Fire and Rescue Service operational service delivery in west Galway and south Connemara area.”
At his speech on Tuesday, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources Seán Kyne said, “The most important result of this project is a better service for the region - a fire and emergency service for the people that is funded out of the taxes they pay; the same level of service available to all the other communities across the county.”
Deputy Kyne credited the local people’s efforts for bringing about the station. “There was a local campaign of many years by local people, in particular Johnny Sheamus Ó Choghnaile. When the local action group, Coiste Cearta Conamara, was formed I was more than happy to support the group in realising this vital project.
“They consistently raised the lack of a locally-based fire station and emergency service with politicians and on the officials at the county council. They prepared maps highlighting the significant gap in fire service provision in Connemara when compared with the rest of the country. The maps clearly demonstrated the need for change.”
