Big day out for little heroes
Gardaí give Galway’s brave battlers a day to remember last week – combining with other emergency services to show one set of heroes how another set of heroes do their daily work.
The fire service, army and coast guard joined the Gardaí to offer the youngsters an insight into their working lives, as they literally brought out their firepower at Aerphort Chonamara, where they were hosted by Aer Arann.
And Jimmy Lally (9) from Leitir Móir, Sean Breathnach (10) from Ros a Mhil, two year old Molli Ni Mhaille De Burca from Ros Muc, and Chloe (13) and Noah (6) Flaherty from Knocknacarra were also given a chance to take on the role of emergency personnel for the day.
All of the special guests – who were joined by their families on the day – have battled serious and life-impacting illness over their short lives.
Jimmy has Spina Bifida; Sean has complex needs with Hemimegalencephaly; Noah has Stickler syndrome; Chloe has an Acquired Brain Injury – and little Molli has spinal muscular atrophy type 2.
Their big day out was hosted by the Little Blue Heroes Foundation, a not-for-profit charity operated entirely by volunteers made up of Garda members, retired Garda members, their families, friends and civic minded people from communities.
Read the full story – with loads of photos – in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie