Local Order of Malta's trip down memory lane

Past and present members of the Tullamore Order of Malta Ambulance Corps took a nostalgic trip down memory lane this week with the publication of a very special book to mark the 70th birthday of the unit in the county.
Former Clontarf Road resident and now Chancellor Emeritus of the Irish Association of the Order of Malta, Michael Barry, was on hand in Tullamore Library on Monday night to launch the album of memories which was compiled over the past year by members to preserve their 70 years of dedicated service to the people of Offaly.
A very powerful link between the old and the new at this week's launch was the presence of local volunteer, Joe Power, who attended the very first meeting of the Order of Malta in Tullamore back in 1949!
Another local volunteer, Tom Walsh, told the Offaly Independent that the project was first mooted over a year ago when members got together to debate how they would commemorate the 70th birthday of the organisation in Offaly. “We thought of the usual things like a dinner dance, a golf classic, various outings, but it was one of our members, John Thomas, who came up with the idea of compiling a book of old photographs, so he took the whole thing on board and he did a wonderful job.”
John Thomas enlisted the assistance of Michael Byrne in Offaly Historical Society, and the two worked closely on the project over the past year.
“If it wasn't for the absolutely amazing help we received from the Historical Society every step along the way this book would never have been published” said Tom Walsh, who also paid a warm tribute to local printing company, Print Plus, in the Axis Business Park in Tullamore who looked after all their printing requirements.
To coincide with this week's Book Launch, John Thomas organised a wonderful Order of Malta Photographic Exhibition in the Library which will continue to be displayed until the end of September. Tom Walsh, who described the power of a photograph as being “immeasurable” said it was wonderful to witness the “sheer excitement” on the faces of so many people at the book launch when they spotted a familiar face in one of the photographs.
Tullamore Order of Malta currently has 40 members, who meet every Wednesday night at 8pm in the Dary Care Centre in Riada House. New members are “always welcome” according to Tom Walsh, and anyone interested in volunteering their services to the organisation is welcome to come along to one of their weekly meetings, where Mary Kearns is the Office in Charge.
The unit has four advanced paramedics; three paramedics; three nurses and five emergency medical technicians, with the remaining members working as first aid responders. They have two ambulances which are equipped to HSE standard and also a four wheel drive and Tom Walsh says they are always “very busy.”
The Order of Malta provides first aid cover at all major events across county Offaly including Tullamore Show, Harriers race meetings, the annual St Patrick's Day Parade, and all sporting and entertainment events. They also had a very visible presence in Clara for the high-profile homecoming celebrations for Irish Open Champion, Shane Lowry, in recent weeks.
“All members operate in a totally voluntary capacity, not one of them get paid for the services they provide” stresses Tom Walsh, who says the commemorative photographic book which was launched this week can be purchased from the offices of Offaly Historical Society at a cost of €15.