An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 32 | CIVIL DEFENCE CELEBRATE By MAIRtín Ó CIARDuBhÁIn 2 018 marks the 25th year since Civil Defence volunteers first attended the International Military Pilgrimage (IMP) to Lourdes, following an invitation from Monsignor Ray Fields (then head Chaplain and later Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin) invited them to join with the Defence Forces group on the 1993 pilgrimage. Participation went from a modest beginning of 18 volunteers in 1993 to a high point of 150 in 2008. Although at this stage nearly every local authority Civil Defence unit has been represented on the IMP, the same core group of about 12 volunteers has been there since the beginning and they will be there again this year to celebrate 25 years of attendance. From the earliest days of their participation, Civil Defence wished to provide some service to pilgrims. Dr Gerry Kerr of the Defence Forces was medical advisor to the pilgrimage in 1993 and he suggested that the volunteers could provide basic first aid for the civilians accompanying the pilgrimage, and whose numbers were increasing at that time. He also asked that they might pro- vide water bearers for Irish pilgrims who had often had difficulties during ceremonies due to the hot weather. The Civil Defence vol- unteers were happy to carry out these duties and have continued to perform them on all subsequent pilgrimages. Every year at Lourdes is different yet the same; this is the magic of the place. Most pilgrims who come to Lourdes with the military pilgrimage come only once and can be overwhelmed by the experience; the great military pageantry and the religious fervour that pervades all the ceremonies. This can leave little or no spare capacity to appreciate any of the other aspects of Lourdes, includ- ing the social side of the pilgrimage: walks, picnics, trips to the Chateaux Fort, or coffees at the Pic du Jer for example. However, Civil Defence volunteers on the pilgrimage regularly develop a deeper understanding of what happened in Lourdes so long ago and of its meaning for the modern world. That meaning may be illuminated by a particular incident that happened to the Civil Defence volunteers on the first pilgrimage of 1993 when they undertook to assist a wheelchair-bound volun- teer from Wexford Civil Defence to achieve his ambition to do the 'high Stations'. When they found that no wheelchair access was allowed, they transferred him to a stretcher, which they started to carry on their shoulders. The distance is over a mile up Espelugues Mountain and the volunteers soon got into difficulties. However, without a word, Defence Forces cadets stepped in and took over the carry, continuing to rotate the task on the ascent and descent. This action showed the true spirit of Lourdes and has been never forgotten by Civil Defence. Sadly, the volunteer they had carried died about a year afterwards, but with his ambition achieved. There have been many memorable years for Civil Defence at 25 Years of the IMP President Mary McAleese joins members of Civil Defence at Lourdes in 2008 for the official photograph. Also, in the photograph are Mr Bill Smith, Principal Officer, Civil Defence, and Mr Joe Meagher, Chairman, Civil Defence Board. PDF and Civil Defence parade across the Pont Vieux on the way to ceremonies in the Domaine.

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