New Fire Station Opened in Galway

The Connacht Tribune Saturday, October 20th, 1956

The Most Modern Building in the State for Over 40 Years

The Minister for Local Government, Mr P O'Donnell, on Thursday officially opened, Galway's new fire station at Fr. Griffin Road, and described it as the most modern fire station erected in the country for the last forty years. Prior to the opening ceremony the building was blessed by Most Rev Dr Browne, Bishop of Galway, assisted by Rev J Kelly, CC, St Nicholas and Rev T Kelly, CC, do. His Lordship inspected a guard of honour of firemen from Galway, Tuam, Athenry, Mountbellew and Loughrea.

The building, which cost £32,500, is one of the most handsome in the country and includes three residences for staff, a lecture room and 45 foot tower for drying hose and training crews in the use of ladders.

For the opening ceremony the fire siren sounded and the fire brigade, a water tender and civil defence vehicle immediately moved out from the automatically opened doors. A fountain played in front of the main doors of the building which has a granite plinth base. In the magnificently appointed quarters is a statue of Our Lady donated by Mr J Coyne, Woodquay, Clerk of Works. The floor of the garage is heated by underground pipes to help maintain the equipment and fire brigade engines.

Large crowds watched the opening ceremony. The attendance included the Secretary of the Department of Local Government, Mr M Garvan; the fire advisor to the Department, Mr VL Walsh; the Co. Manager Mrs C I O'Flynn; the Ass., Co. Manager, Mr L Looney; the acting County Secretary, Mr M Moroney and representatives of Galway Corporation and of the County Council fire advisory committee.

Welcoming the Minister and Bishop on behalf of the chairman and vice chairman of Galway County Council, both of whom are indisposed, Mr T King welcomed the Bishop and Minister and paid tribute to the fire chief, Mr B Sugrue, for the manner in which the fire fighting services of the county were being organised. The new station was second to none in the country in any city of the size and population of Galway, he said. Galway County Council had provided the necessary finance in spite of the fact that they were in the red as far as loan charges were concerned. The Chairman, Mr M Quinn, he said, had been very keen on the erection of the new station.

Credit to City

The Minister replying, said he was informed by the Fire Advisor to the Department that it was the most modern station built in the country in 40 years. After the luncheon the Minister, referring to remarks by the Bishop concerning the desirability of Galway as the centre for the Gaeltacht Department, said that the Department was to be outside Dublin he would support Galway and he hoped the example of the city's fire services would be followed elsewhere.

The Mayor, Ald P Green, presided at the luncheon and said the new station was a magnificent building and a credit to the city and he congratulated all concerned with the project.

Speaking at the luncheon in the Great Southern Hotel, the Minister said: I am deeply grateful for the toast of my health so kindly proposed by His Lordship the Bishop of Galway. Such a tribute coming from so eminent and learned a personage makes me feel honoured in the extreme and gives me fresh confidence and encouragement to face the numerous and difficult tasks that confront me in my office. I would wish, indeed, that our roles were reversed in order that I should have the opportunity of adding a few words to the need of praise which His Lordship had earned throughout his distinguished career in religion; in scholarship and in ecclesiastical administration.

Referring to the new station, the Minister said: "This is the culmination of the foresight and skills of many people. The combined efforts of architect and contractors have seldom achieved such happy results in a building of this kind. The design, layout and appearance of this station compares more than favourable with the most modern fire stations at home and abroad. Credit is due also to the Galway Corporation and the Galway County Council for the co—operation which made this venture possible and the officials of both bodies are entitled to share in the tributes which are now due for the successful inauguration of this joint service."

A Symbol

It is stimulating to reflect that this new structure with its functional design and modern equipment, one symbol of Ireland's advancement into the new scientific era, stands on a place which, 30 years ago, was densely built over with small, thatched cabins. The Claddagh of that time, with its overcrowded dwellings was a relic of that old Ireland which even then was fast disappearing It was Irish speaking, it was picturesque, but it was also an unhealthy slum. We wish to preserve all that was Gaelic and racy of the soil in our past but we also aim at improved standards of housing and health, at improved services to guard against dangers from fire and floor. Thus, even those who deplore the passing of old time Irish ways will share our pride in what has been achieved, Galway may be justly proud of this outstanding spirit of modern Ireland.

It is right that I should also refer to the progress being made by the County Council in extending and modernising local fire services throughout the county generally. They have shown themselves willing to incur considerable expenditure on the provision of fire stations and the purchase of the most modern fire—fighting appliances and equipment for, various centres throughout the county. Loughrea has been the first to have a modern station and now similar stations are in course of erection or projected at Tuam, Ballinasloe and Clifden. I need not, in the present company, stress the importance of the fire service in safeguarding both life and property and I think that in these difficult times, when there are so many other demands on their resources, the Galway local authorities are to be congratulated on their very real achievements in this field.

Most Ref Dr Browne said: "Fire is one of God's greatest gifts to man; it warms him and his home; it cooks his food; it enables him to conquer and to utilise the mineral and chemical resources of nature. It is man's useful servant in the march of civilisation. But, like so many other gifts of God, it is beneficial as long as it is under control. Like man's own faculties and emotions, when it gets out of control, it becomes man's master and enemy. It endangers not merely property but life itself. Every community lives in dread of the havoc and loss that a destructive fire can cause, Hence one of the first needs of modern life is to make available an efficient fire fighting service."

Perilous Duty

"Today Galway County Council has inaugurated here in the city a central station which is equipped with the latest and most efficient engines and appliances. It will serve the whole county and come to the assistance of the local stations. It is an expensive service, but indispensable. I hope the Co. Council are getting some support from the Fire Insurance Companies who stand to benefit substantially from the work of this city and county service.

I would like to congratulate the Ministry of Local Government which gave encouragement and skilled direction for the inauguration of this service, and the members and officials, of Galway Co. Council who took the responsibility and carried out the work, notwithstanding many difficulties. In particular, I would like to offer my warm appreciation to the men who have undertaken the ardous and often perilous duty of being ready to go out at all hours whenever the call sounds. Some will always be on duty at the station; the others will be available at their homes. Their services are mainly on a voluntary basis, and we are all grateful to them and proud that there are men of their calibre ready to risk their lives for the safety of their fellow men."

Civil Defence

"I am glad to hear that the station will be used also as a centre for the very important work of Civil Fire Defence. That is a very necessary service in the present day. The threat of war has not disappeared from the world; the destructiveness of war weapons has been terribly increased. It is the duty of every community to provide for its safety. Even apart from war it is the duty of every factory, shop and household to see that its members have some training in fire fighting and fire control, so that when an emergency arises they will be able to take prompt and effective measures and will avoid the dangers of panic. Every householder should know how to get the occupants of every room in his house to safety with the minimum of delay".

Capt. Sugrue, fire chief, said everybody should take precautions against fire; the County Council had a fire advisory service which on request would have anybody's premises inspected and give advice on fire prevention. Unfortunately it was their experience that the law had to be involved to require people to take the necessary precautions to ensure their buildings were safe from fire. It would be a great pleasure for the fire service if, instead of being forced, people would come along and seek advice which would be gladly given. He paid tribute to everybody connected with the construction and planning of the new station.

£70,000 Damage

Nine fire brigades throughout the county answered from 100 to 120 calls a year and he suggested that insurance companies should provide a statistical service stating the loss incurred each year in each county by fire as was done in England. Losses from fire in County Galway had been as much as £70,000 or £100,000.

Referring to the civil defence service, Capt. Sugrue said it was proposed to seek volunteers for this service in the near future.

Mr D O'Toole, Architect, paid tribute to the Bishop, the Mayor, the Co. Manager, former Borough Engineer, Mr D Carroll; former County Engineer, Mr Lee, and Capt Sugrue. He also paid tribute to Messrs McNally and Co., Contractors, who, he said, had broken the back of the job, particularly in regard to foundation work. He also thanked the Insurance Corporation of Ireland, the sub—contactors, and the Galway workers. Referring to the clerk of works, Mr J Coyne, he said he was one of the most diligent and best clerks of work he had ever come across.

Among the firemen present was the last surviving member of the old Galway brigade, Mr Alex McDonald, Canal Road, who first joined the brigade in March 1954.

Architect of the building was Mr Dermot O'Toole, MRIAI, Dublin, the quantity surveyors were Messrs D McGreevy, FRICS and John J Gannon. ARICS and the consulting engineer Mr J C Costello, ME Sub—contracts on the scheme were held by O'Neill's of Dublin (heating), John Dolan, Shangort, Galway (electrical contractor) and P O'Connor, Galway and Cork (French polishing)..

About 40 people attended the luncheon.

The grounds of the new station were tastefully (decorated with flowers for the occasion and houses in the vicinity were bedecked with flags. Arousing considerable interest was the Figure of Panic, standing on a pedestal near the station entrance. An example of the modern school of sculpture. It is intended to represent a human clutching the edge of a roof awaiting rescue. It is doubtful if many of the general public would put this interpretation on the object which stands about five feet in height and does not in the least look like a human hanging from a roof.