Firefighters celebrate: Dublin Brigade marks 150 years' service

A CELEBRATORY parade of Dublin’s firefighters and visiting pipe bands, to be held in June, will be among the highlights of a …

A CELEBRATORY parade of Dublin’s firefighters and visiting pipe bands, to be held in June, will be among the highlights of a series of festivities to mark the 150th anniversary of Dublin Fire Brigade.

A colour-party parade, with bands and drummers, will march from Parnell Square to Dublin Castle on the evening of June 2nd.

Dublin Fire Brigade was founded in 1862 and has seen “many changes from the early steam fire engines and horse- drawn ambulances to the current modern fire, rescue and emergency ambulance service,” said chief fire officer Stephen Brady,

“Our 150th anniversary gives us the opportunity to celebrate all aspects of our service both past and present and I am proud to be chief fire officer during this momentous year.”

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The Dublin brigade is the only one in Ireland and one of the few in the world where all members are trained paramedics. It receives more than 133,000 fire, emergency ambulance and rescue calls annually.

An Post will issue four commemorative stamps for the fire service anniversary at the end of June.

A television series following the work of the firemen and women, Fire Fighters, will be broadcast on RTÉ television in September.

Kitty Holland

Kitty Holland

Kitty Holland is Social Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times