Awards night was held in Grand Hotel in Tralee on September 4.

Friday, September 4, was an evening of celebration for all involved with the Tralee Branch of the Irish Red Cross as the volunteer group held their annual awards night.

The night took place at the Grand Hotel in Tralee and in attendance to present the 60-plus awards given out was Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, T.D.

Amongst the many recipients were eleven Tralee Red Cross Youths who completed programmes on various Red Cross, mental health, and responsible mobile phone use while a total of 16 Red Cross members also received certificates in Safeguarding Awareness Training following a course in Tralee recently.

10 Red Cross volunteers who recently completed a recent First Aid Responder course in Tralee and three Kerry members who graduated to Emergency First Responder level, were also honoured on the night.

Long serving Tralee member Charlie Harnett received an Accredited Safeguarding Trainer renewal certificate, while Lixnaw man, Paul Montgomery was awarded a Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council Tutor qualification.

In a new initiative for the group, nine Red Cross members from Kerry and Cork received certificates in something called Therapeutic Hand Care and they will be now be delivering the service in the community in the coming months.

32 current and former Red Cross members were also awarded with commemorative medals in recognition of their voluntary service during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Speaking at the function, the Chair of the Tralee branch of the Irish Red Cross, Joe McDonnell, congratulated all of the recipients of the various awards.

“What we are doing here tonight is recognising the immense amount of voluntary work by the various sections within the Irish Red Cross in Kerry and formally thanking them for all of their efforts”, he said.

Tralee Red Cross Community Services Officer, Bridie Fealy, was excited to be leading the delivery of the Red Cross Therapeutic Hand Care Service in the county.

“It provides comfort, companionship, and communication through touch, and it’s a boost to morale, and overall improved well being to people,” explained Bridie.

Elena Barry, who is the Tralee Red Cross Youth Officer, was delighted that Minister Foley was in attendance.

“It encourages the youths and their parents to see the other members’ enthusiasm, and appreciation for what the youths are doing, and the presence of the Minister shows that also,” she said.

Maureen Milward of the Red Cross First Aid and Ambulance Unit in Tralee, was very proud of all the efforts of the members during the pandemic.

“Covid is a distant memory for some people but what our volunteers did back then was vital to allow society to continue,” said she said.

Minister Norma Foley said that she was honoured to present the awards and that it was particularly fitting that the members receive specially commissioned medals in recognition of their invaluable and sterling work throughout the pandemic.

“Every parcel of food delivered and every visit to a person’s door made a real and significant difference during a very difficult time,” she said.