by Alan Jacques
ABBEYFEALE District Search and Rescue (ASDAR), based in the former Garda station on the Killarney Road, celebrated its tenth birthday this week.
The voluntary local initiative grew out of a community response to the tragic death of local teenager Ricky Loughnane in December 2004. Since then, the group has grown to over 80 members and has been involved in numerous searches over the past decade.
West Limerick Resources project officer Eleanor McLoughlin praised ASDAR for its passion and commitment to their work and their community.
“In addition to their core search and rescue activities, ADSAR members are often found at the heart of a range of community activities helping to steward community events, deliver supplies to isolated older people during harsh winter weather and helping to erect Abbeyfeale’s Christmas lights each year. They also host a range of community meetings in their headquarters,” she explained.
Abbeyfeale and District Search and Rescue PRO Helen Broderick also thanked West Limerick Resources for its “staunch support” of ADSAR.
“It has helped provide valuable training as well as financial support for major works carried out in the headquarters. It is also instrumental in providing practical help in worked within the organisation”, she said.
