Sports clubs raise funds for life saving defibrillator
By Aura McMenamin
THE installation of a defibrillator at a ‘busy’ green space in Kilnamanagh, is being supported by South Dublin County Council.
Local football and GAA clubs Kilnamanagh FC and St Kevin’s Killian’s GAA purchased the defibrillator following local fundraising efforts and hope it will be installed beside a play space in Kilnamanagh by the council.
Defibrillators, costing in the region of €1,500, can save the life of somebody suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.
Councillor Cora McCann (SF) tabled the motion in October at the Tallaght Area Committee Meeting, where it was passed, and raised it again in council chambers last month.
Cllr McCann said: “I was approached by a member of the St Kevin’s Killian’s GAA club a couple of months ago.
“St Kevins Killian’s and Kilnamanagh FC have got funds together to provide a defibrillator for the players.
Cllr McCann added, “It’s a community initiative because it’s very important – this is a very busy green space.”
She brought the motion up again at the December meeting, where the council said they would meet with Kilnamanagh residents and visit the site to identify a suitable location for the defibrillator.
A representative from the council’s Environment and Public Realm Management said that the council would be “happy” to facilitate the provision of a defibrillator if a meeting with the Kilnamanagh residents behind the initiative was facilitated.
The council representative said: “As reported to this area committee in October of last year, the Council’s Public Realm Section is happy to install a post as requested on Tree Park Road to facilitate the provision of a defibrillator there.
“As stated in response to motion number 4 on the October agenda, a meeting is required on site with the residents group in the first instance to establish the exact details of what is required and where the defibrillator is to be located.
“Once this meeting takes places and the requirements are established the post will be erected.”
The council requested contact details for the relevant Kilnamanagh residents to arrange a meeting.
The first 24-hour public access defibrillator in Tallaght was officially launched in Kilnamanagh in August, and is located in the Elmcastle area.
