Irish Red Cross
Click here to visit the Irish Red Cross website.The Irish Red Cross was established by an Act of the Oireachtas on July 1st, 1939. The first meeting of the governing body of the society was held in Dublin on September 5th July 1939. Today, the Irish Red Cross has approximately 8,000 adult and youth members in over 100 branches nationwide. Our members are part of the Red Cross family, which has over 100 million volunteers and almost 500,000 employees in over 180 countries.
Within Ireland, the Irish Red Cross provides emergency services through its Mountain Rescue, Canine Search and Rescue, and Water Rescue Teams nationwide, which are all on call to the Emergency Services on a 24/7 basis. The Irish Red Cross also operates a casualty service, providing ambulance and first aid cover at events nationwide. As well as this, the Irish Red Cross provides a variety of broadly-based community services including youthwork and caring for the sick and elderly.
Branches
Through our branch network, Irish Red Cross volunteers offer services to those in need in our own communities and support Red Cross relief operations overseas. With over 100 branches nationwide, the Irish Red Cross is present in almost every community in the Republic of Ireland. There are over 25 branches in County Cork alone, and the Cork City Branch is one of these.
Branch activities and responsibilities include enrolling new members, organising courses in Basic & Occupational First Aid, CPR, Caring for the Sick and Hand Care Courses; providing a wide range of community services for the elderly, mentally & physically handicapped, asylum seekers and home carers. Branches also help to trace missing relatives through the national and international tracing services operated by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Fundraising efforts to help raise funds for branch, national and international appeals is a central activity of every branch.
Units
Units (uniformed sections) provide ambulance services, train equip and render First Aid services at civic, cultural, and sporting events. Units also maintain ambulance and medical & nursing services which are on constant stand-by to assist the national and local major emergency plans, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Units are a major focus of volunteering within the Irish Red Cross.
We operate a fleet of over 85 ambulances throughout the Republic, many of them new vehicles thanks to a recent multi-million euro investment programme in the ambulance fleet. We also operate a fleet of 4x4 rescue vehicles, canine recue units, mountain rescue units, lifeboats and minibuses throughout the Republic.
IRC Youth Red Cross
IRC Youth Red Cross provides training activities, both educational and recreational for young people. It aims to identify their major concerns and recommends action where appropriate. Youth Red Cross groups focus on the protection of life & health, community services, international friendship, carrying-out of the Red Cross principles, education for peace, leadership and communication skills. The Youth Red Cross section also carries out Schools Safety Programme, and Entertainment Troupe schemes.
Overseas Aid
Abroad, the Irish Red Cross has earned a distinctive reputation for the skill and commitment of delegates sent to work in disaster zones around the world. In recent times, delegates from the Irish Red Cross have worked in roughly 60 different countries dealing with strife, sickness and natural disaster.
In addition, millions of euro are sent annually to provide both relief and rehabilitation to people all over the world. No administration costs are deducted from money sent to named Special Appeals organised by the Irish Red Cross.
All Irish Red Cross assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the Irish people.