Edenderry first responder recognised at Volunteer Ireland Awards

David O’Malley of Edenderry CFR won the Safety & Emergency Services Award at the Volunteer Ireland Awards 2024.

The ceremony took place on Sunday, December 8, in the Carlton Hotel in Blanchardstown.

"David O’Malley is dedicated to safeguarding the health and well-being of Edenderry’s residents. Over the past 18 months, he has secured funding and overseen the installation of 28 publicly available Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the town and surrounding areas, which previously had none.

"He has driven the doubling of the responder area covered for emergency response, bringing in the wider community. David is known for his quick response to cardiac emergencies, often opting to cycle to bypass traffic and ensure swift assistance.

"In addition to emergency response, he has organised CPR training for young people, schools, sports clubs and community groups. Recently he assisted in training a dozen Gardaí in Edenderry as cardiac responders, further strengthening the chain of survival in the area.

"David has personally attended 150+ emergency calls and has directly contributed to the survival of at least three individuals, including a young mother, allowing them to return home safely to their families. He also collaborated with the Dillon Quirke Foundation to arrange cardiac screenings for 350+ young people in the community, leading to cardiology referrals that may well have saved lives or medical emergencies in the future.

“There are no words that can do this man justice. I know he is involved with other organisations and is equally dedicated to them, while also being a wonderful husband and father,” wrote his nominator.

Taking to social media to congratulate David on his win, Edenderry CRF said: "To be honest ,this is an incredible allocate and well deserved for the work that David has done over the past 3 years.

None of this would have been possible without the support of the local community and as we always say, it takes a community to save a life."