Laois Civil Defence to hold recruitment day this weekend
‘There’s a great sense of achievement in being able to leave home from watching television at eight o’clock in the evening and be back two hours later after having helped reunite a family with somebody who was lost’
Laois Civil Defence, a volunteer organisation which supports emergency services across myriad events, is holding a recruitment day in Portlaoise this weekend.
Paul Baynham joined the Civil Defence 23 years ago when he was just 16, and it was his experience with the group that encouraged him to pursue a career in the gardaí.
Mr Baynham recalls “going in as a total novice years ago and not knowing any first aid, not knowing any skills in that area, and being afforded the opportunity to do the courses. The whole way through, all of the training was provided.”
He said the training and frontline experiences he received through the Civil Defence have stood to him throughout his career and encourages anyone interested in a career in emergency services, or just looking to give back to their community, to apply.
“We have people that come in from school leaving age; they don’t know what they want to do. They might be caught between social care and nursing studies. And then after their first event out for the crew and ambulance with an EMT [Emergency Medical Technician] or a paramedic, they’re bitten by the bug.”
As a member of the Civil Defence, Mr Baynham took off-road driving courses for severe weather call-outs, when volunteers collect patients for hospital appointments and dialysis or, conversely, transport healthcare professionals to work.
“It’s quite rewarding,” he said. “A lot of our volunteers might come in initially because they might want to learn first aid in relation to their kids at home. But when they see the camaraderie and the friendships that are built and forged within the organisation, they end up staying.”
He said there is “a great buzz” in attending to unplanned events like Search and Rescue call-outs in the Slieve Blooms.
“There’s a great sense of achievement in being able to leave home from watching television at eight o’clock in the evening and be back two hours later after having helped reunite a family with somebody who was lost.”
Laois Civil Defence volunteers generally provide a two-hour commitment per week, and anyone over 18 may to apply. No previous training is required, and all training and equipment is provided. All volunteers receive minimum training and may then qualify further depending on their interests.
The diversity of backgrounds “is the beauty of it,” Mr Baynham said. “If we were to go out on a search, and we were to get ten volunteers, you’d have volunteers from such a broad background. Some of them would be paramedics, more of them would be from a tech field, which means that there’s a role for everybody.”
From January 1 to October 6, 2026, Laois Civil Defence turned out to 167 events, including two severe weather events, 10 medical responses, 32 missing person or Search and Rescue requests, and an EU Presidency event.
As of October 6, 2026, the unit has 62 active volunteers. Four additional volunteers are currently awaiting recertification.
Members of Laois Civil Defence will be at Laois Shopping Centre this Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:30am to 5pm. Both new and seasoned members will be available to discuss their work and answer any questions from people interested in volunteering.