Covid-19 puts paid to Mayo emergency services summit

Covid-19 has forced the cancellation of an emergency services summit in Mayo.

EmergencyTimes.ie and its event partner, Mayo County Council, have announced that the emergency services ‘Blue Light Summit’, which was due to take place on March 27 and 28 at the Breaffy House Resort in Castlebar, has been postponed.

With almost a thousand delegates from the emergency, medical, voluntary and search & rescue services from Ireland, the UK, US and across Europe due to attend the two-day seminar, trade and exhibition show, event organisers acknowledge the current and expected operational demands and challenges faced by these services and their personnel of all ranks, who are required to carry out their duties to the fullest of their abilities in dealing with the outbreak.

Event co-ordinator volunteer, Declan Keogh, said while the decision to postpone the summit is regrettable, it is essential in order to allow the emergency services carry out their duties in dealing with the situation.

“Nobody wants to see any event being postponed, however, given the nature of the Blue Light Summit and with new cases confirmed, while it is regrettable, it is essential that we act now and act responsibly.

"We must also acknowledge that the emergency and medical services themselves will of course be committed elsewhere now in working to contain the virus, and we are hopeful, but confident, that our delegates, guests and exhibitors will understand and accept these circumstances, in order to allow the various services deal with the situation," he stated.

A spokesperson for Mayo County Council said; “We in Mayo County Council are in agreement with our event partners EmergencyTimes.ie. 

"It is necessary to postpone the blue light summit for the moment and while all the services and departments involved are advising the public of the various cautionary measures, we too must act accordingly and in the interest of public health and safety, given the recent developments.”

The Blue Light Summit is being rescheduled to take place on September 4 and 5 instead.