Event
will be culmination of 18-month wellness programme in collaboration with
Setanta College
Fire-fighters from Co. Tipperary will battle it out
in a test of physical fitness and endurance at the inaugural Setanta Fire
Service Games next month. The first of their kind in Ireland, the Games
will take place at Thurles Fire Station on Saturday, 14th September.
Teams from every fire station in Tipperary will
compete in challenges including a fire-engine pull, a ‘hang tough’, tyre-flipping,
box-jumping, and timed runs. Many of the activities will be completed
wearing full fire-fighting equipment, and the winning team will be awarded the
Setanta Cup.
18-Month
Wellness Programme
The Setanta Fire Service Games mark the culmination
of a wellness programme that has been pioneered by Tipperary
Fire Services in partnership with Setanta College, the
leading provider of sports courses.
The programme was developed to improve the physical
and mental wellbeing of fire-fighters across Co. Tipperary. It has been
rolled out over the past 18 months, with 11 fire-fighters completing diplomas
in Personal Training, and Strength and Conditioning. The qualified
fire-fighters are now designated Wellness Officers in their respective
stations, working to roll out wellness programmes for their colleagues on an
ongoing basis.
Speaking about the wellness programme, Dave Carroll,
Tipperary County Council’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Fire-fighting is a hugely
demanding job, both mentally and physically. The majority of our team are
retained fire-fighters, which means they are typically juggling their fire-fighting
duties with another full-time job, placing extra demands on their physical and
mental wellbeing.
“In recent years, we identified the need to improve
the physical wellbeing of our fire-fighters, and Setanta College came on
board to develop a bespoke training programme for us. The programme has given
our team-members the skills to not only improve their own health and wellbeing,
but also to share their knowledge with their colleagues, and to develop a
culture of positive physical and mental wellbeing in all fire stations in
Tipperary.
“This has been an immensely positive experience for
the individual fire-fighters who completed the diploma course, but also for the
wider fire-fighting community in Tipperary. Each fire station in the county is
now being equipped with a gym, marking our commitment to investing in the
wellbeing of our fire-fighters. We believe this is a truly
ground-breaking and important programme, with the potential to be replicated by
Fire Services nationwide.”
Mr. Carroll said he had suffered a stroke in recent
years, and has now regained full physical fitness, thanks to the Setanta
College programme.
“Physical wellbeing is important for everyone, no
matter what profession you’re in. In recent years, I suffered a stroke
and, thanks to the support of my colleagues and our shared focus on wellness, I
have been able to improve my own health and fitness to the point where I am now
able to compete in the upcoming Setanta Fire Service Games,” he said.
“The Games will be the culmination of almost
two years of hard work by our fire-fighters and a chance for them to show what
they’ve learned, as well as introducing a bit of healthy competition amongst
the fire stations in Tipperary.”
Rock
of Cashel Launch
The Setanta Fire Service Games were officially
launched at the iconic Rock of Cashel in Co. Tipperary.
Also commenting on the Games, Dr. Liam Hennessy,
former international athlete and founder of Setanta College, said: “We were
delighted to work with Tipperary Fire Services in developing this innovative
training programme for fire-fighters. Fire-fighters provide an invaluable
service to our communities, and this programme will help them increase their
fitness, improve their nutrition, and remain injury-free when responding to a
crisis.
“Tipperary County Council has demonstrated real leadership in safeguarding the physical and mental health of its fire-fighters. The upcoming Setanta Fire Service Games will be a fun and memorable way to mark the achievements of those who have participated in the wellness programme – and to demonstrate to emergency services nationwide the importance of cultivating strong physical and mental health amongst their teams.”
