THE LIMERICK City Branch of the Irish Red Cross took home two awards at the Irish Red Cross National Volunteer Awards 2025, held at Croke Park at the weekend.
Limerick City was announced as Branch of the Year, while one of its longstanding volunteers, Mary Grehan, won the Instructor of the Year award.
With 67 years of service and 167 dedicated members, the Limerick City Branch has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service and youth development. In 2024, the branch provided medical cover to 146 events and held over 200 training sessions. In 2025 to date, they have covered 66 events and conducted 150+ training sessions, supporting sports matches, festivals concerts, and community events across Limerick.
Limerick City Branch is home to the Generation Heroes youth programme, which has been launched nationwide. The branch manages seven youth groups annually across four locations in Limerick City. It branch provides vital community transport services and demonstrated exceptional dedication during Storm Eowyn in January 2025,
Mary Grehan, a dedicated member of the Limerick City branch for more than 25 years, has contributed an unquantifiable amount of time to the Irish Red Cross, holding numerous positions and renowned as a fountain of knowledge on all matters related to emergency care.
As a Paramedic with the National Ambulance Service, Mary has a wealth of expertise which she generously shares with other student volunteers and this has benefited the Limerick City branch greatly.
Mary is also known for bringing warmth and community to her classes, often accompanied by her beloved dog Oscar.