With national media present at Rathcoole Airfield on Monday morning, 2nd Sept. 2019 – Coordinator supreme, John Kearney and his superb Team witnessed their dream become reality when Tánaiste Simon Coveney officially cut the tape to launch the start of the all-important Air Ambulance Service. Here we share the first four of many more images recalling the historic event. Click on the images to enlarge. (S.R.)
Tag: Rathcoole Aerodrome
Air Ambulance Officially Launched this Morning
A ceremony took place in Rathcoole Aerodrome this morning where Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, officially launched the country’s first charity air ambulance service. Led by the Irish Community Rapid Response charity, it has already been tasked more than 50 times, since it went operational a month ago. The new service will significantly improve response times for medical emergencies. From Rathcoole, it has a response time for most of Munster of under 30 minutes.
[read more …] “Air Ambulance Officially Launched this Morning”
Rathcoole Aerodrome
Rathcoole Aerodrome (ICAO: EIRT) (also called Rathcoole Airfield) is situated just north of Rathcoole Village, about 9km north-east of Millstreet. It has a single grass strip (approx. 450m in length and 18m wide) running to the south of the River Blackwater.
The airfield has numerous aircraft based there, including:- a Piper J-3 Cub (G-ATKI), Cessna 210 Centurian (EI-AWH), a homebuild Vans RV-6(G-BYDV), a Chevron 2-32 motor glider (EI-CAU), a Streak Shadow (EI-CZC), and a Medway EclipseR (EI-CRY).
It is operated by the Rathcoole Flying Club – Tel: 029-58004. Or contact- Jerry Creedon. Tel: 022-22344
The runway headings are: 09/27
This aerodrome is licensed by the Aeronautical Services Department of the Irish Aviation Authority.
Rathcoole airfield was opened during the 1960’s by the McCarthy Family who who ran a popular and much needed pipe and tile business in Rathcoole. It was at a time when air travel was in its infancy and the development created quite a stir in the locality. It is owned and maintained by Donal Mc Carthy.
Air Ambulance
In August 2019 the country’s first charity air ambulance service, led by the Irish Community Rapid Response charity, started operating from the Aerodrome. The service is centrally located for all of Munster and deals with severe medical emergencies that need to be transferred to hospitals quickly.
See more at ICRR.ie, and also in our news pages
And we have lift off.
At the official launch of Ireland’s first community-funded air ambulance at the @ICRROfficial air base near Millstreet #Cork #Helimed92 pic.twitter.com/wuqMqcTOL8
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) September 2, 2019
How to get there?
Rathcoole is about 9km north-east of Millstreet. Directions are HERE [GMaps]
Videos
2019: Zenith CH701 landing at Rathcoole, County Cork
2016: AFTA CFI Daniel Lynch performing a short-field landing into Rathcoole airfield in C172 G-CFMM.
Near Accident
In 2007 The pilot of a microlight aircraft had a narrow escape when a spare helmet bounced out of the back seat and smashed into the rear propeller as he was taking off from Rathcoole airfield near Mallow in Co Cork… [Irish Times]
Links:
Air Ambulance Helicopter to get the Green Light
Finally it looks like the Air Ambulance based in Rathcoole is to get the go-ahead:
“Minister for Health, Simon Harris, TD, announced today (Friday) that a new aeromedical service in the South will be launched in the coming weeks following the signing of a Service Level Agreement between the HSE and Irish Community Rapid Response.
Welcoming the news, Minister Harris said “I am delighted that a new aeromedical service in the South will commence shortly. I would like to thank the HSE National Ambulance Service and Irish Community Rapid Response for its commitment in developing this Service Level Agreement and ensuring the necessary clinical and corporate governance arrangements are such that the new service will be safe, robust and sustainable.
The service will see the establishment of a charitably funded Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the South, which will operate from Rathcoole Aerodrome, just northeast of Millstreet, County Cork. The service will complement the existing aeromedical services and improve aeromedical access to the South of Ireland …”
[read the full statement on the Department of Health website]
[read more …] “Air Ambulance Helicopter to get the Green Light”
