New public access defibrillator installed at Clonmore

The community of Clonmore are the latest group to work together to provide a life saving piece of equipment in their area.

Residents groups in Clonmore joined up with the Mullingar Community First Responders to install a public access defibrillator (PAD) on the main road in Clonmore, and it will be fully accessible to the public. A PAD is a portable, easy-to-use device placed in a public space to help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.

Prior to this, the nearest 24/7 defibrillator in the area was on Dominick Street.

Clonmore resident Cllr Ken Glynn and others in the area including John Reidy from the Newbrook Grove residents group have been toiling away in the last few months to bring the project to fruition.

Around 5,000 people in Ireland suffer a sudden cardiac arrest every year. A patient’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest decreases by an estimated 10% with every passing minute without intervention. An AED can be the difference between life and death.

Newbrook Grove residents group member, John Reidy, said the defib is a welcome development: “It’s great for the area, it is badly needed. Where it is located sees a lot of people passing; be it walking, jogging or cycling. The nearest one to it is Rochfords.”

“We have it up and active now,” said Cllr Glynn of the latest addition to the community, “We are delighted that the defibrillator is now in place. John came to me a number of months ago and suggested the idea, and we decided we would run the fundraiser, and it was a huge success.”

That fundraiser was a table quiz at Caffrey’s on Mount Street, and the public support for the project was apparent at that event.

“There was a full house on the night. We want to thank Niall Caffrey and the team at Caffrey’s for their support. They helped make it a great night.

“We also want to thank Willie Geraghty, the quizmaster, as well as all our sponsors, and everybody who supported us.”

John Reidy added: “I got in contact with the residents of Clonmore Heights and Clarkemount. We all worked together to put together the quiz night in Caffrey’s, and that was what got the ball rolling, a lot of the local businesses supported us with spot prizes. They understood how important this was for the area.”

Ken says the provision of the defibrillator is a real asset for the area: “It’s fully accessible for any resident in the Clonmore area, or a passer-by. It’s a popular walking and running spot, so it’s a fantastic facility.

“Mullingar First Responders will be providing a training course for anybody that’s interested. We’re going to try and gather a number of residents and put it together.”

Cllr Glynn hopes the project will inspire other communities to follow suit: “It was great to work with the various resident associations in Clonmore for such a positive outcome. I’m delighted to work with any area that wants to provide such a facility and help them get there.

“I think it’s hugely important, and it just gives that little bit of sense of safety or comfort to people, to know that it’s close by if anybody ever needs it.”