National award for Athlone Order of Malta

The Athlone branch of the Order of Malta is going from strength to strength - a fact which was underlined when it recently received the national 'unit of the year' award from the voluntary first aid organisation. The Blake Cup is presented each year to the outstanding performer among the 86 nationwide units, and it went to the Athlone branch at the Order of Malta National Assembly in Portlaoise late last month. It was only the second time a unit outside of Dublin or Connaught had won this award. The local branch has its headquarters at Brick Island and has approximately 40 adult members along with a recently-established cadet unit for 10-16-year-olds. Mark Finlay, the officer in charge of the branch, stated that it was an honour to be awarded the Blake Cup. He said the success was down to the hard work of the membership and the standard of community care it provided. Looking back at the activities the branch participated in over the last year, he said a group of twelve from Athlone had taken part in the annual Order of Malta pilgrimage to Lourdes last May. "We would have covered a lot of local and regional events over the last year. Our members covered events such as the Electric Picnic festival, Oxegen, and the National Ploughing Championships. Locally, we provide an ambulance at Athlone Town FC matches and the Kilbeggan Races." The Athlone branch of the Order of Malta was founded in 1987 and the services it provides include: basic first aid, occupational first aid, paediatric first aid and a cardiac first responder service. The branch recently participated in a successful 'mock rescue' operation in Lough Ree, which was organised in conjunction with the Athlone Sub Aqua Club. Anyone interested in joining the Order of Malta can find more information online (www.orderofmalta.ie) or by contacting Mark Finlay on (087) 9432090.