The rescue team is delighted and honoured to have welcomed the President of Ireland to the recently finished centre, and to have him cut the ribbon and announce the completion of this project.  President Michael D. Higgins was very gracious in his speech on the work of the rescue teams both in Wicklow and throughout Ireland – “Through their efforts, through their leadership, these volunteers are reaffirming the old decencies in Irish life and drawing on the ethical values that are being forged by our talented and energetic people of all generations; they are demonstrating community cohesion, neighbourly cooperation and creative endeavour; they are renewing our Republic so that it does full justice to the values of fairness and participation”.

We’d also like to take this chance to thank all of those who’ve contributed to this project.  Without their support, none of this would be possible, and the team’s only regret is that there wasn’t enough space in the building to accommodate the entire range of people who’ve contributed to this project on the day.

As well as operating as a training centre, the building will be used by the Rescue Team to store life-saving equipment and vehicles and has been designed to be as environmentally-friendly as possible.  The building systems include solar hot water, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, high spec insulation, heat recovery ventilation and under-floor heating.  When fully landscaped, the grounds will be planted with native trees and wildflowers.