Charitable voluntary organisation providing first aid training, event cover, transport, community care, and training centre venue hire. Thurles Unit:-

Order of Malta Ireland Ambulance Corps Thurles was established in 1948, shortly followed by its Cadet Unit, and has grown to become one of the largest and most active units in the country. We provide excellence in first aid training, event cover, transport, venue hire, and community care services to the greater Thurles and Templemore area .

Our Unit is made up of voluntary members of all ages into their eighties from all around the Mid-Tipperary area and a Cadet Unit (10-16 year olds). Our membership is also made up of medical professionals – Doctors, Nurses, EMT’s, Paramedics, and Advanced Paramedics. Some of our Officers have been appointed to National and Regional roles within our organisation.

Thurles unit provides many first aid and community services. We provide first aid training courses for industry and for the public. We provide emergency first aid and ambulance cover at events around Thurles like GAA matches, horse racing, car rallies, pilgrimages, major Diocesan events, and point-to-points. We also provide patient transport facilities with our fleet of five fully-equipped multi-terrain and sized ambulances and a mobile first aid station.

We also provide many community care serves like nursing home visits and entertainment, parties for the elderly, hospitality at Blood Donation Clinics, and we have been central to many Public Access Defibrillator Programmes locally. Our Unit partakes in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, May and Corpus Christi Processions every year and transport patients to our Annual Pilgrimages to Lourdes and Knock every year. In January 2005, we fundraised over €70K for the Tsunami Disaster Fund. We also assist our colleagues across the island at major events like concerts, matches, Croagh Patrick hikes, Ploughing Championships, etc.

Our qualified, experienced instructors provide courses in Basic First Aid, Paediatric First Aid, Cardiac First Responder (CFR), First Aid Responder (FAR), and refresher/recertification courses for industry and the public, to suit your needs where necessary. We are a Recognised Institution by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council of Ireland (PHECC).

New members are always welcome to attend our meetings at 8pm on Friday nights. Volunteering with us is an opportunity to meet new friends, learn new skills, put existing ones to good use and be part of a team that will make a difference to the lives of people in your local community. We provide opportunities for people from the age of ten up and as well as first aiders and community carers we need drivers, fundraisers and people to provide other support for our members. Members are trained in various skills: First Aid Responder (FAR), Nursing Skills, Patient & Manual Handling, Basic / Advanced Youth Leadership, Officer Development, Safeguarding Child Protection and Welfare, Light Rescue Skills, Footdrill, Radio Operation, Ambulance Equipment, Ambulance Driving and can progress to become Instructors, Examiners, Emergency First Responders (EFR) or even Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).

Our Cadet members learn Basic First Aid, Basic Life Support & Emergency Skills, Home Nursing, Footdrill and get the opportunity to develop their skills through the Cadet Achievement Programme and Cadet Competitions. There is an annual cadet camp for members as well as other events. We place a strong emphasis on learning through fun and participation in first aid duties. We have a strong record of achievements in competitions in Thurles and were awarded Cadet Unit of the Year in recognition of our community involvement.