Order of Malta Ireland - Ambulance Corps - Louisburgh

07/03/2026

What a difference a year makes!

This time last year John, a Louisburgh resident, woke in the middle of the night complaining of severe chest pain. His wife, Louise, called for an ambulance immediately fearing John was having a heart attack. Given the remoteness of their home, an ambulance would be over an hour away, Louise reached out to her neighbours, Jim Corrigan and Peter Snell from Order of Malta Ireland - Ambulance Corps - Louisburgh who immediately came to help.

Shortly after they arrived on scene John went into cardiac arrest. Jim and Peter used their well honed first aid skills to begin CPR, set up the defibrillator, and successfully restarting John's heart after three shocks from the AED and continued to monitor him until the National Ambulance Service emergency vehicle arrived.

John has now made a full recovery and this week in Limerick, he was present with his wife Louise at an event hosted by Fleming Medical Ltd. where presented both Jim and Peter with an unexpected hero award and a brand new defibrillator so they can continue to save lives in their community.

Well done all!

Picture: Louise and John McDonagh, Jim Corrigan, A representative of Zoll Germany, Peter Snell, Mark Fleming, Fleming Medical.

27/02/2026

Westport Credit Union continues to be an amazing support to our unit here in Louisburgh!

Watch this short video to hear the real impact of the work we do! We are so proud of our unit, our members and so grateful to everyone in our community who support us every day!

Order of Malta Ireland

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18/10/2025

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and Assistant Officer in Charge, Maureen O’Grady Forde.

Maureen passed away peacefully after a long illness, which she faced with incredible strength and grace. She touched the lives of so many in Louisburgh and beyond through her kindness, dedication, and service with the Order of Malta.

We are truly grateful for the time Maureen gave to our unit — her warmth, compassion, and commitment made a lasting difference to everyone she met.

Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with her husband Joe, and children Matthew, Zoey, Gavin, and Casey during this difficult time.

Rest in peace, Maureen. 💖
You will always be remembered fondly by your Order of Malta family and the wider Louisburgh community

08/03/2025

⚡Life Saved Thanks to Quick Action by Our Team!⚡

Last night, two of our members responded to a person experiencing chest pain. 999 was contacted, but moments later, the person went into cardiac arrest.

Without hesitation, our members recognized cardiac arrest, started CPR, and used the defibrillator. After delivering three shocks, they successfully achieved ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation)—meaning the person’s heart started beating again! We are delighted to share that they are now recovering well.

This is a remarkable achievement for our crew and a testament to the power of early intervention in cardiac emergencies.

According to OHCAR, in 2023 alone, 2,857 cardiac arrests occurred in Ireland, with 68% happening at home.

This is why everyone can make a difference. Early recognition, early CPR, and early defibrillation save lives.

Do you know where your nearest defibrillator is located? It could make all the difference in an emergency.

Order of Malta Ireland
National Ambulance Service (NAS)

24/02/2025

Thank you so much Westport Credit Union 🥰🙏

Meet Our Community Fund Recipients – Order of Malta Ireland - Ambulance Corps - Louisburgh ✨

They’ll be using their funding to buy a new patient monitor and an AED for use in the ambulance, this will really enhance the quality of emergency care they can provide. 🙌

Mary, Jim and Peter dropped in to collect their cheque from Sabrina & Alicia. 📸

Don’t forget – the Community Fund is open for applications for 2025 – apply now here: https://www.westportcu.ie/community-fund