THE theme of this years St Patricks Day parade in Clara is the local fire brigade. To mark the event the parade will be preceeded by a mini-parade of vintage fire engines.
These will include models from the 1950's and 1960's as well as the old fire brigade hand-carts from Goodbody's factory. A recording of the old fire siren will also be played on the day. A presentation will be made to the current Clara fire crew as well as presentations to surviving former members to show the community's appreciation of their work.
Over the years seven different men have been in charge of Clara fire station. These men, or representatives of their family, are being invited to cut a tape to launch the mini-parade.
It's difficult to pin down the exact starting date for Clara fire service with even contacts with Offaly County Council proving inconclusive.
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SEE ALSO
All the colour of the 2009 Clara St Patrick's Day Parade_______________
However it's believed that the service first stems from the fire Brigade Act of 1940 which suggested that each County Council would look after the need to deal with outbreaks of fire in it's community.
To this end, it is understood that the first fire station in Clara was built in the early to mid 1940's. This building still stands beside the current fire station which was built in 1956.
The first fire engine was a hand-cart which was dragged through the town by the firemen. If the fire was a long distance away from the fire station a local car owner or hackney man would be asked to use their vehicle to tow the hand-cart.After some years the Clara fire brigade got their first motorised engine, a land rover jeep.
This was replaced by a larger engine in the 1970's. This engine was known as a 'Green Goddess', a war-time fire engine imported from the UK. The Goddess was replaced by a Bedford which served the town until a brand new Dodge fire engine arrived in 1986, following a long campaign by the then station officer Sean T O'Brien.
The Dodge served in Clara until 2005 when it was replaced by a Leyland which had been imported from Lancashire. Clara is now served by an up-to-date Mercedes fire engine which carries all the latest fire-fighting and rescue equipment.
Initially to call the Clara fire brigade a person would have to go to the fire station and press a button on the wall. This would activate the fire siren. The fire siren was a World War 2 air raid siren.
On a clear day it could be heard for miles around. On hearing the siren the firemen would dash to the station and get details of the fire. With the introduction of phones people had a choice. They could go to the station and press the button or could ring the then station officer Joe McKeon who lived beside the station.
Joe, his wife Mag, or one of his family, would take the details and then pop next door to ring the siren. In later years phones were also installed at the houses of sub-officers and drivers.
