IPA Journal - Spring 2024

Welcome to the Spring 2024 edition of the IPA Journal.

Editorial

This Edition will perhaps come closer to the last one that we would have liked. Our Winter Edition and 2024 Calendar were printed and ready for shipping but due to circumstances beyond our control, the three-yearly membership cards were delayed, pushing delivery of all three items to mid January. I hope that each of you received your membership card, if not please email us at ipairish@gmail.com.

In this edition, we have a mix of articles which I hope you will find of interest. IPA Ireland were happy to propose a motion at last year’s World Congress in Athens which sought to promote the role of women in IPA. As a result, one of the initiatives is the #sheisIPA campaign, with an image and quotation from female IPA members from around the world featuring each day on our App and social media channels.

Our regular contributor Richard Casey features another great West Cork walk, and our health and fitness correspondent Owen O’ Mahony is back with a piece on work life balance, something everyone should pay attention to, in particular those of us on shift work. There were more International visitors to Dublin and IPA activity around the country, something we will hopefully see more of as the summer rolls in.

The Arthur Troop Scholarship runs every year and there is still time to apply online for the 2025 prize. This is a great way of getting a scholarship to attend a police related professional training or educational event and we would love to see more Section Ireland members applying. The deadline is 31st March 2024, see inside for more details.

Finally, we would continue to encourage you to go to our website and register for online access, before downloading the IPA App. This will provide you with prompt communications on IPA activity and events worldwide. Don’t forget to turn on ‘push notifications’, we will shortly be re-introducing email notifications for each of these online news posts, as we are now at 2,100 members registered and climbing.

I wish you and those close to you a healthy and energetic Spring.

Servo

Per Amikeco

Chris Cahill

Editor email: chris@ipaireland.org

Photo by Melissa Askew n on Unsplash

President’s Message

Conor O’Higgins

Spring 2023

WIPA Journal is distributed to members of the International Police Association in Ireland, 75% are serving members of An Garda Síochána of all ranks, the remainder being retirees. We also mail the magazine to friends of IPA Ireland overseas.

This magazine is sustained by the generous support of sponsors and advertisers; we exhort our members to appreciate this and to patronise those who contribute to our success. All revenue received by IPA in excess of requirements is devoted to philanthropic purposes. IPA provides funding for scholarships, relief of distress, charities, education, sport, cultural pursuits, bonds of friendship and co-operation between all police officers.

IPA Office:

IPA House, 13 Iona Drive, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

T: 01 830 2907 F: 01 830 4612

E: ipairish@gmail.com

Editorial Board

President: Conor O’Higgins

Editor: Chris Cahill

E: chris@ipaireland.org

1st Vice President: Marie Daly

National Treasurer: Damian Crummey

Contributors

Billy Saunderson

Chris Cahill

Chris Verling

Conor O’ Higgins

Deborah O’ Neill

Edel Corcoran

James Codd

Publishers

Real Media Group

James Healy

Kieron Fennelly

Marie Daly

Mick Walsh

Owen O’ Mahony

Richard Casey

Suite 167, CoLab Business Centre, Port Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

T: 074 91 77893

E: publish@realmedia.group

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in IPA Journal unless expressly stated, do not necessarily reflect the

e are now well into Spring and looking forward to the long bright days once again. As you read this edition of IPA Magazine, we are preparing for National Council 2024. This year we are being hosted by Kerry Region and we are grateful to Chairman, Chris Manton, and his Committee for all their assistance in the arrangements necessary to stage our annual get together when we as an Executive account for the past year.

National Council is that time when delegates from each Region get together with the National Executive and tease out how best we can service the needs of our membership. I am pleased that the National Executive has invited representatives of the Young Police Officers Forum to witness at first hand how the Association is managed and decisions made.

National Council is only successful when the delegates, having listened to each NEC Member account for his or her portfolio and then ask the question and seek the necessary clarification.

Since our Christmas Publication there have been two major initiatives which originated in this Section:

- 1st Vice President, Marie Daly, with a group of our female colleagues from Sections UK, Sweden and in cooperation with Gimborn College met, discussed and decided that a motion to World Congress 2023 be submitted with the aim of encouraging greater participation of Female members withing the Association. Section Ireland proposed the motion which was carried overwhelmingly. This group set up the #sheisipa website and has commenced the campaign to get more female members involved in the management of IPA nationally and internationally.

- Young Police Officers Forum. At Gimborn Seniors and Juniors meeting in Autumn 2023, Assistant Secretary General, Joyce O’Grady set out her proposals to empower Junior members to be ambassadors for the association in each region of Section Ireland. Included in this project was a mentoring course to upskill these members. The seminar was held in Mullingar in January 2024 and was also attended by representatives from Sections UK, Austria, Belgium and Holland.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Marie and Joyce on their very positive initiatives and I wish them every success with these projects.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you to register on our new Website www.ipaireland.org and our IPA App. By doing so, you will be better informed of all things IPA, National and International. Don’t delay, get registered.

Wishing you all a happy Spring.

Mise i gcairdeas

Conor O’Higgins

President IPA Ireland E: conorohiggins@gmail.com

GIMBORN SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS 2024

Name Area

Mary Kelly Clare R28

Noel O Donnell Sligo Leitrim R17

Ann Power Harcourt R5

Grahan Weeks HQ R1

Melanie Walsh Kerry R18

Fergus Collins Laois Offaly R10

Lisa Barry Limerick R22

Katherine Madden Cork City Centre R19

Nicola Murphy Galway R29

Edel Moloney Limerick R22

The Cultural Commission are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Competition for places at the Irish run Seminar in Gimborn Castle, Germany, this summer. We will be advertising the 2025 event in Q4, be sure to keep an eye on the Autumn Edition and our social media channels

President’s Diary

Spring Edition 2024

5th January 2024 – Heads of Commission (HOC)

The HOC includes the President, 1st Vice President, Marie Daly, Vice President Declan O Byrne, Secretary General, Carlo Griffin and National Treasurer, Damian Crummey. This was the first meeting of the year and each officer set out their plans for the year.

26th to 28th January 2024 - Tayside IPA Ceili, Pitlochry, Scotland.

I was delighted to attend this cultural weekend with Catherine and two friends, This was a private visit and was the last of many years when our great friends Yvonne and David Mc Greggor and the Tayside Committee organised this event. The weekend included Scottish cultural song and dance and some whisky tasting. The charity Air Ambulance benefitted as the nominated charity. Other international guests included International President, Martin Hoffman and his wife Angela, along with visitors from Sections UK, Austria, Sweden. There was sadness that this was the last Tayside event. A number of people approached me enquiring if Section Ireland would host a similar event in January 2025 and it is my hope to host one in Kilkenny. More details on this in a later edition

8th and 9th February - Young Police Officers Forum, Mullingar Park Hotel.

The National Executive Committee attended the first day and each member set out their respective roles to the participants and took questions. The NEC held their regular NEC meeting on the second day.

6th March - HOC Meeting – Killiney Castle.

Heads Of Commissions met with Events Manager to discus the Friendship Week to coincide with the 70th anniversary celebrations of the formation of IPA Ireland 1955, in September 2025.

22nd March - Passing out Parade, Garda College

26th March – AGSI Annual Conference dinner

I look forward to meeting AGSI Delegates and Guests at their annual Conference Dinner in Westport, representing IPA at this important event

Young Police O cers (YPO)

Inaugural Mentoring Programme 8th & 9th February 2024

Iwould like to begin with a quote which I think summarises the Inaugural YPO Mentoring Programme ‘The direction you choose to face determines whether you’re standing at the end or the beginning of a road’. If this quote is true, then the delegates who took up the invitation to join the YPO Forum of IPA Section Ireland were most definitely facing forward at the beginning of this particular road. The YPO’s of the International Police Association of Section Ireland came together on the 8th of February 2024 for a 2-day Programme where 20 members from Regions of Section Ireland received the Programme as Delegates.

Day 1 – which was addressed by International Vice President & Treasurer Michael Walsh by way of opening and observed by friends from Sections UK, Belgium and Austria – saw the National Executive members brief the delegates on all of the portfolios they hold and how these portfolios shape and advance the Section. It was an information rich day which delivered a fundamental knowledge on the International Police Association. The feedback received was hugely positive and the delegates were enthused with the information – a lot of which was new but invaluable to them.

Day 2 – a day which saw the Mentoring element take place. A course on Mentoring was delivered, by Mentoring experts DCM, who equipped the delegates with the skills and information necessary to e ectively deliver the knowledge they gained on Day 1. Delivered in an interactive way, the skills taught were both new and novel with the delegates expressing their satisfaction on the method of delivery. A Certificate of completion was given to each participant and again feedback received was hugely positive here.

Going forward we can now view each delegate as an ambassador – educated, informed and able to take their information and deliver it wherever they go, be it in their Regions, Nationally or Internationally. I strongly recommend that these members take up positions on their Regional Committees. This will be a huge step towards invigorating the membership, results already show an increased awareness and membership continues to increase month on month. The benefits of being a member of the YPO Forum are sharply in focus. Rather than rest in the knowledge that the Programme is successful it is now time to move forward. I am asking each Region of Section Ireland to look at their members and to send forward more candidates for inclusion. It is my firm belief that we have a system which is proven to work in terms of reaching out to the Regions. When we have such an opportunity, I believe we should grasp it firmly. As one of the most active Sections Internationally we now stand out as pioneers and what a fantastic position to be in.

Friends, let’s continue to build!

Servo per Amikeco

Joyce O’ Grady

Assistant Secretary General with Responsibility for Youth & Junior Members

Arthur Troop Scholarship 2025

The Arthur Troop Scholarship, as a legacy to the IPA’s founder, is a professional education and advanced training bursary, with the aim of aiding IPA members in their professional careers.

Every year IPA members are invited to submit their application forms to their National Section to be in with the chance of receiving a scholarship of up to €2,500 to be used for a seminar or training option of their choosing. Many of the awardees opt to attend a seminar from the wide range on offer at the IPA’s Education and Training Centre – IBZ Gimborn in NRW, Germany.

The application period runs from 1st January to 31st March each year, with the successful awardees being announced at the IPA World Congress later that year. So there is still time to apply!

The Sheep’s Head

WHILE MOST PEOPLE KNOW OF OR MAY WELL HAVE WALKED THE LIGHTHOUSE LOOP ON THE WESTERN TIP OF SHEEP’S HEAD PENINSULA, NOT MANY KNOW THAT THE SHEEP’S HEAD WAY IS A MULTI-DAY HIKING TRAIL WHICH STARTS IN BANTRY AND WINDS ITS WAY WESTWARDS ALONG THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE PENINSULA, ROUNDING THE ABOVE LIGHTHOUSE AND RETURNING TO BANTRY ALONG THE SOUTHERN SIDE. THE ENTIRE PENINSULA IS STEEPED IN HISTORY AND, IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A FEW PET DAYS WHILE WALKING, THERE ARE ENOUGH JAW-DROPPINGLY BEAUTIFUL VISTAS TO LAST A LIFETIME.

The route covers 92km and can be comfortably walked in 6 to 7 days which allows plenty of time for dawdling, pottering and soaking in the views with the fragrant smell of gorse flowers being wafted by a warm sea breeze while the sun tickles the back of your neck. It really is a special place and on the aforementioned pet days it rivals anywhere else in the world. Transport can be awkward so it is advisable to leave a car at your end point before returning to your start point by car and, in this way, leap frogging your way along the route. Taxis are available in Bantry but may take a while to get to you and there is also a local link bus between Kilcrohane, Durrus and Bantry (check timetable locally in advance).

It is worthwhile spending some time in Bantry town itself before exploring the grounds of Bantry House. The route then leaves town and swings right opposite the West Lodge Hotel. Within minutes the sounds of traffic are left behind as the route passes the Lady’s Well and mass rock before heading to higher ground at Boolteenagh. Booleying refers to the old practice of bringing cattle up to higher ground in summer where there was richer grazing to be had. Across much of Ireland’s uplands, low stone circular walls are all that remain of booley huts which were small thatched huts where those tending the cattle would sleep.

The bogs here are full of bog asphodels, sundews and butterworts with the latter two plants being Ireland’s only insectivorous plants. These plants are able to trap midges and tiny insects on their sticky leaves which are then absorbed into the plant itself thereby allowing the plant to thrive in the mineral deficient ecosystems of the bogs. Butterflies also abound in the bogs with holly blues, meadow browns and ringlets being visible throughout.

The views north over Bantry Bay encompass all of Beara and Bere Island while Whiddy Island, with its ancient gun batteries and fortifications, can now be seen to the northeast. These fortifications are now sitting shoulder to shoulder with the modern oil terminal storage tanks which store part of the Irish strategic oil reserve.

As you progress westwards Glanlough lake hovers into view like a mirage and, just like a mirage, it takes a long, long time for it to come any closer. Well beyond Glanlough, Seefin (345m) makes its presence felt. Once on the summit the way ahead becomes clear with a short descent to the Windy Gap and the Marian statue. Beyond Cahergal remnants of the areas ancient copper mines are still visible. The lighthouse at the western tip is soon reached and a welcome break awaits at the café at Tooreen shortly afterwards.

Back on the ridge, once you pass the concrete surveyors trig point, you pass the ruins of a Napoleonic signal tower which toppled in 1989 after a lightning strike. The marriage stone at Caherulagh is worth the short diversion. Next on the agenda is Tra Ruaim which is a lovely sheltered shingle beach after which the burial ground or cill at Caher makes one pause for thought. The short detour to Dooneen pier is also worthwhile before arriving at Kilcrohane. On a fine day there is nothing more refreshing than a dip from the strand at Kilcrohane pier and the number of local bathers present with us were testament to this. Once clear of Kilcrohane

On a fine day there is nothing more refreshing than a dip from the strand at Kilcrohane pier

Richard Casey

the route drops down to the coast before climbing to meet the green road to Ahakista which feels like a lush green carpet underfoot. Lord Bandon’s folly also comes into view below the road on your right.

The next leg to Durrus is over rough ground and is very taxing but once you pass the ruins of Cul na Long, a seventeenth century fortified house, you descend into the pretty village of Durrus.

The last days walking takes you uphill over some desolate and isolated moorland to Barnageehy from where the descent back to Bantry is made easier knowing that journeys end is just over two hours away. This last leg, in particular, is rich in standing stones, mining artefacts and even a wedge tomb dedicated to Queen Meabh of Connaught. As we descended towards Bantry the hedgerows were glistening with fushia and birdsong accompanied us all the way back into town providing a fitting end to an exceptional adventure.

The guidebook used throughout was ‘Walking the Sheep’s Head Way’ by Amanda Clarke which is available in Bantry bookstore and is a must for potential walkers.

IPA Section UK

FREE TRAINING WEBINARS

IPA SECTION UK IS RUNNING A SERIES OF FREE TO ATTEND ONLINE SEMINARS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERS. THERE ARE SPACES STILL AVAILABLE. SECTION UK HAVE ALSO STARTED A PROGRAMME OF WEBINARS WITH THE US SECTION ABOUT VOLUNTEER POLICING THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO OUR GARDA RESERVE MEMBERS. MORE DETAILS ON THIS WHEN AVAILABLE.

Monday 15th April – 1400-1530 - Cyber Enabled Human Trafficking & Child Exploitation with Dan Garnham, Director Gentium UK Cyber

Learn how human trafficking is often heavily dependent on the cyber realm to facilitate the movement and exploitation of people across the world. The last in a series hosted by Gentium Cyber, experts in Cyber Crime training.

Wednesday 29th May – 1900-2030 – National & International Wildlife Crime with Chief Inspector Kev Kelly, head of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit

Chief Inspector Kevin Kelly is head of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit and has responsibility to oversee the UK Policing response to wildlife crime and the illegal wildlife trade. Kev leads a team of 21 who are specialists in wildlife crime investigations, analytics and intelligence development. The NWCU also provides training to UK police officers in the priority areas of wildlife crime. Kev has been a wildlife crime officer for over 21 years and has done this at all ranks. Additional to the NWCU role, Kev is also the chair of the Interpol wildlife crime working group and has responsibility for global wildlife crime enforcement. In this role he leads a group of global experts who to joint up wildlife crime enforcement bi laterally across continents.

The Sheep’s Head

NEWPOKER CHIPS

€10 for 5

NEW PACKS

NEW PRODUCT

DELIGHTED TO HAVE OUR NEW POKER CHIPS ON SALE IN TIME FOR ST PATRICK’S DAY SELLING IN PACKS OF 5 THEY ARE A MORE ECONOMICAL OPTION THAN CHALLENGE COINS.

The poker chips feature the updated Section Ireland shamrock updated with the new IPA map that now includes Australia and New Zealand. the reverse is a Claddagh design that signifies friendship with the IPA motto “Servo Per Amikeco” and “Cead Mile Failte” with two Celtic knots.

Priced at €10 for 5 chips they are very good value

THE FUTURE

Following NEC approval, induction and delegate packs will now be provided to delegates at council and congress and on entering the association in Templemore. The first packs were provided to young police officers who attended the mentoring program in February.

RETIREMENT PIECES

In order to stream line the process of ordering retirement pieces (and capture all the information required for the engraving) a form is now available on the website.

IPA LAURA FUND

There is now an opportunity to donate to the IPA Laura Fund while shopping on our online site, please consider this when making your online purchases.

While the transition to the online platform hasn’t been without its challenges with some bugs still being worked on (as it now stands all orders and retirement pieces  have been dispatched) the future of our online shop is bright. The poker chips are the first new products in a while but more will follow in the coming weeks. I would love to hear your opinion and see what merchandise you’ve been gifted on your travels

from IPA members and police colleagues. What supplies do you think Section Ireland should have?

Please contact me at ipairish.suppilies@gmail.com.

James Codd Assistant Treasurer with responsibility for Supplies

Project Children Peace Centre

A new state of the art Peace Centre has opened in Co Monaghan, costing €17.6 Million to develop. The focus of this Centre is to o er to the community a museum to document the troubles in Ireland. The staple of artifacts will be donated by an organisation called Project Children. This charitable organisation was set up 50 years ago by Cork brothers Denis and Patrick Mulcahy. Through their work with the New York Police Department, they set up the charity a er watching endless news accounts of violence in Northern Ireland.

In 1975, Mulcahy founded Project Children, an organisation dedicated to bringing children from Northern Ireland to the US for six weeks over the summer. That first year, six children participated, three Catholics and three Protestants. The project blossomed and over more than 35 years it has brought more than 21,000 children to the United States for the summer. Many have forged long-term friendships with their American hosts. Some have continued to visit America, going on to study at Universities. Others have gained prominence in Ireland.

Project Children has earned the support of celebrities like Liam Neeson and Roma Downey. There is recognition for Denis Mulcahy: during the nineties he travelled as a guest of

President Clinton to Northern Ireland. At the time Mulcahy started the program, the Troubles were at their peak and he watched the five o’clock news every night in distress. So many of the reports about Northern Ireland featured young people, he recalled – “on the streets they are throwing bricks and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers.”. Children were getting hit with rubber bullets, getting hurt and even killed. Tensions that were always near the surface bubbled over during marching season. “The Troubles, Mulcahy said, were so bad and the segregation was so bad we were saying that if we get the young children out of there for the summer – that was the marching season – they were not going to be on the street. They were not going to be out there and they were not going to be getting hurt.”

Over the years, Project Children has had a huge influence on the lives of thousands of children from Northern Ireland. They have enabled friendships to be formed that otherwise would not have happened back in Northern Ireland.

In 1995, Mulcahy set up Project Interns in partnership with the charity Habitat for Humanity. It allows college students from the North to receive valuable experience in the US. Before starting their internships, the students spend a week building houses in disadvantaged parts of the country. It was New Orleans a couple of years ago, and this year Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which was hit by tornadoes in 2011.

“We’re giving great internships where kids are getting incredible knowledge and are getting jobs out of it; plus, they’re giving back, working with Habitat for the week and building a house for a needy family,” Mulcahy explained.

The funding comes from the likes of golf tournaments and ra es etc., the recent economic downturn has hit the project hard. So has the fact that the Northern con ict is much less in the news even though communal tensions continue, especially in parts of larger cities and towns. The need for the program is perhaps less urgent than it was, but that does not mean it has disappeared completely. “You will always have segregation in Northern Ireland because of the way it is laid out,” Mulcahy said. “It is like southern Ireland; families do not move. They live, they grow up in a neighborhood, generation a er generation.”

Denis Mulcahy has received many accolades for his assiduous work promoting the cause of peace in Northern Ireland. He was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for the children of Northern Ireland. In 1995, Denis received the Top Cop Award in Washington DC by Vice President Al Gore, and later that year, Denis accompanied President Clinton as a member of his delegation on his historic trip to Northern Ireland.

In 2016, Denis received the title of O cer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. In 2017 he received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad, presented to him personally by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. In 2018, he also received a presentation on behalf of the Washington Ireland Program from the An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD.  In 2023, Mulcahy was awarded the ‘Cork Person of the Year Award’ from the New York Cork Association. Along with the archive, the Council is in the early stages of working with Project Children to plan a major series of exhibitions, events, and programmes to mark the 50th anniversary of this transformative project in 2025.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD visited Monaghan Town at the opening to o ciate the launch of the Project Children

Partnership with Monaghan County Council. Project Children’s complete archive will be housed in Monaghan County Museum in the soon-to-open Peace Campus, the event took place in the Hillgrove Hotel. The Taoiseach had a unique insight into the project, as he visited Washington through a Project Children spin-o internship programme in 2002. Project Children Cofounder Denis Mulcahy expressed his pride in the Taoiseach during the event.

Project Children was founded in 1975 in New York by Cork brothers Denis and Pat Mulcahy, who wanted to show children that there was more to life than the violence they were exposed to during The Troubles.

Liam Bradley, Curator of Monaghan County Museum, acted as Master of Ceremonies. He began by expressing his delight that Monaghan Peace Campus, incorporating Monaghan County Museum under the auspices of Monaghan County Council had been selected to be the home of the archive of Project Children. “Over the last few days, I have gotten to know Denis Mulcahy, his family and the many representatives of Project Children and I am overwhelmed by the strength of character and spirit that it has taken to do what they have done and change so many lives,” the curator commented. The panel of speakers were introduced in the order that they spoke: Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council David Maxwell, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, Minister Heather Humphreys, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council Robert Burns and Chairman and Co-founder of Project.

The Peace Centre will be looking for visitors, volunteers, input on exhibits and community collaboration to ensure its sustainability and presence in the community. Project children will be having many events over the coming months to launch the move of the Archives from the US to Ireland. There will be one major running event in Oct 2024 in New York State.

There will be many events over the coming year to mark the 50th anniversary of Project Children in 2025. Please follow @projectchildrenireland on Instagram for updates.

Project Children Peace Centre

An Taoiseach at the Centre Launch

The Group ready for action

Edel

Corcoran

Denis and Edel at the Launch

O cials at the launch

Motor ReviewIneos Grenadier 2023

It has become almost a part of automobile folklore: a small group of friends meets at the local pub. Gentlemen of a certain age, they bewail the recent demise of their beloved Land Rover Defender and being fellows of distinctly adventurous inclination, they decide to build their own. They will call their 4x4 ‘Grenadier’ after the name of the pub. That was in 2017. In 2024, Grenadiers are rolling off the production line at Hambach on the Franco-German border at the rate of 70/day and are being delivered worldwide. For a brand-new manufacturer, this is astonishing progress. How has it been achieved?

It is not insignificant that one of said adventurers was a certain Jim Ratcliffe. Chemist, and engineer, Sir James Ratcliffe is the founder of Eneos, a chemical conglomerate that has reportedly made him the richest man in Great Britain. A man in other words with the resources to get things done and done properly with no half measures.

When you read that the designer engaged to style the Grenadier has a background in architecture and yacht construction rather than automotive, it suggests another rich man’s fantasy creation. The reality is entirely different. Clearly the inspiration for the Grenadier comes from the Land Rover Defender – the same, boxy shape and proportions, the slatted radiator and from a distance it could be mistaken for a Land Rover. Initially Ratcliffe even sought to buy the Land Rover tooling from Jaguar Land Rover but was unceremoniously sent packing.

Slightly wider and higher than the Land Rover Defender but sharing the same foursquare stance, with its Grenadier, Eneos has set out to build a traditional successor to the Defender, taking the Land Rover in all its rugged practicality and improving it for all those extreme conditions that for decades made it the only vehicle for explorers, rescue missions and of course the military.

The Grenadier does not go the route of new technology: its engineering is conventional, even old school – a ladder chassis carrying a body of aluminium, steel and composites and supported by solid axles. The rollcall of big names is reassuring: BMW supplies the 3 litre six-cylinder engines, either a petrol or a diesel, ZF the eight-speed transmission, Eibach the springs and tractor axle specialist Carraro the beam axles.

All proven componentry operating in hundreds of thousands of vehicles. To engineer the Grenadier, Ineos worked in partnership with Magna Steyr, the Austrian components manufacturer which also assembles the Mercedes G Wagon and the Jaguar I Pace. Magna also built the prototype Grenadiers which Eneos claims covered a million kilometres in testing.

Inside the Grenadier, the emphasis is on robustness and practicality. Climbing into the cabin is assisted by substantial grab handles on the A pillars placed exactly where you instinctively look for them, surfaces are well finished with good quality materials and the entire cabin has a premium quality with cloth or leather seats from Recaro. Door and dashboard fittings are thoughtfully shaped, and all upholstery is wipe-down or washdown, the rubber floor mats, designed to be

hosed, have drain holes beneath them, nevertheless the Grenadier’s interior still feels more Range Rover than utility wagon: this is a vehicle after all in which owners will expect to remain comfortable over (very) long distances.

The driver sits in front of an attractive leather wheel, agreeable to hold and surrounded by a mixture of analogue and touchscreen controls. Frequently used controls have knobs or switches because with gloved or dirty hands these are the only practical solution. An aircraft-style panel above the front cabin has further switches for off road work and accessories such as a light bar and although the driver has to look to operate them, when they are needed, the Grenadier is likely to be advancing only at walking pace.

Kieron Fennelly

A several-mile excursion off-road involving deep ruts and mud and fording a three-foot river suggested that the Grenadier is a remarkably cohesive package: long-travel springs absorb bumps, cushioning the cabin against shocks and the BMW diesel six is refined and unobtrusive while offering huge (550 Nm) torque. The gearbox changes ratios almost imperceptibly and on quite severe gradients it was able to maintain the 3mph momentum critical to retaining traction and not bogging down. The low-range gears and differential locks are straightforward to engage and the Grenadier inspires confidence as does its massive (550Nm) torque in conditions which would defeat most comparable vehicles. The ZF’s hill descent control is a reassuring feature in the more extreme circumstances. Readers who like your correspondent can recall the bone shaking ride of Land Rovers of yore will be struck by the comfort and quiet, almost serene ride quality. This was a major design objective – the more the discomfort, the greater the fatigue for driver and passengers, and it appears to have been achieved.

On the road, the high driving position endows good forward and lateral visibility, and the Grenadier makes easy progress. While cabin ergonomics are otherwise good, on right hand drive Grenadiers the clutch rest is too close (the exhaust is routed underneath) and the driving position may feel too upright. Considering its size and weight (2700kg) acceleration is more than adequate – given its head the petrol version will reach 60mph in a shade under eight seconds, the diesel not far behind and Eneos claims a top speed of 99mph. While the Grenadier will never be left behind in traffic, its steering will keep the driver busy, needing more minor corrections than most cars, even at speed on the motorway. Light enough, the steering is through a recirculating ball rather than more direct rack and pinion. In rough conditions the latter system would tend to whip the wheel about in the driver’s hands, potentially injuring a wrist and risk damaging the rack. As a result, the Grenadier’s already low-geared steering has no self-centring which means the lock needs to be unwound out of a tight turn, a bit of a chore. The long springs absorb road irregularities almost nonchalantly and the body does not lurch on its chassis, though if really pushed through a corner the Grenadier will roll like any high centre-of-gravity vehicle, but though tolerating this to a degree, the Eneos is clearly not designed for this sort of treatment.

For a vehicle built from scratch, the Eneos Grenadier is deeply impressive. The quality of its engineering and the extensive testing in rough terrain on three continents that it has undergone suggest it is very much the successor to the Defender that Jim Ratcliffe sought. Competitors such as JLR’s new Land Rover, priced similarly, may offer a more modern approach and greater refinement, but it does seem that the Grenadier has found its market: some 1,600 were registered in the UK in 2023 and many more overseas. Current delivery time is six to nine months. With a second production line opening at the factory, Eneos expects to build 25,000 during 2024. An electric version is planned for 2026.

Brief Specification

Engine: turbocharged six-cylinder 3 litre BMW petrol or diesel

Transmission: eight-speed ZF with torque converter; low range with Tremec centre-lockable differential.

Max power & torque:

Petrol: 286PS @ 4750rpm 450Nm @ 1750-4000rpm

Diesel: 249PS @ 3250-4200rpm 550Nm @ 1200-3000rpm

Suspension: Carraro solid axles Eibach five-link coil suspension located by Panhard rods

Performance: 0-62mph 9.0 sec top speed 99mph

Mpg: 25mph diesel; 19mph petrol (combined figures, Eneos)

Emissions: 279-319g/km diesel; 325-366g/km petrol

Pricing ROI: from €73,995 (+VAT)

ROI Distributor: Orangeworks Automotive, Dublin

#sheisIPA Campaign Marie Daly

IPA Ireland is proud to support the #sheisIPA project, which was launched as part of the #sheisIPA motion that Section Ireland took to World Congress in Athens last year. The motion was passed with an overwhelming majority and congratulations to 1st Vice President Marie Daly who got this motion across the line. We have included the reference to this motion as contained in the official minutes of World Congress.

IPA will be running a social media campaign during the month of March 2024 promoting women in IPA, with a different image posted on our App and social media channels each day.

Here are the first seven, be sure to stay tuned for more.

Official Minutes of World Congress 2023

16.3 Ireland Women’s Leadership Programme Vote

The President gave the floor to Ireland. Conor nominated Marie Daly to present this with the permission of the President. The president offered the floor to Marie. Marie took the podium and showed a video. She confirmed the motion is based on the premise of the women of IPA contributing to the future of the organisation. She confirmed we heard from Pierre in his report that the challenge to our organisation is not just to maintain our membership but to renew it.

She advised their motion projects a positive image of the IPA to female members of police services and encourages renewal at

management levels. Marie recommended the IPA engage with International Women’s Day to highlight the amazing women in IPA and to connect with women in the policing services around the world with a view to recruiting. She advised the initiative aims to develop a targeted programme of activities that will appeal to women. Marie advised the SG confirmed in her report that IPA female membership figures are below average only 15.7%. Marie confirmed the opportunity of women in police services is over 30% on the countries they researched. She concluded they are looking for funding to run a seminar in Gimborn and confirmed a breakdown of costs can be seen in the motion submitted. Marie finished the presentation outlining the objects including promotion of women, developing activities that will appeal to women and making appropriate training accessible.

The President confirmed the IEB recommendation and financial implications of this motion. He confirmed that the topic should be placed within the strategy of the new IEB, and we leave it to delegates to decide on this motion, keeping in mind the effect on the budget. He offered TF the floor to discuss the budget further.

TF thanked Marie for her presentation and confirmed in keeping in line with the support we offer Seminars in Gimborn, this is usually €150 per participant so based on 68 sections sending a participant each we expect a cost of €10,000 to the International Treasury.

IPA UK President Clive Wood advised the UK section are fully engaged in this project with Karen Duckworth, Yvonne McGregor former vice president and Section Ireland. He confirmed initially the project is for 15 people and not 68 sections.

IPA Sri Lanka Sunethra Senevirathne thanked Marie for this wonderful proposal and the opportunity to bring female officers into the IPA family. She confirmed Sri Lanka would support this motion.P thanked all for comments and congratulated Marie on the project. He confirmed the motion would be placed to vote based on simple majority and asked the tellers to stand. He asked who is against this motion.

Vote 16.3 Women’s Leadership Programme Against: 1 | Abstention: 3 In Favzour: 56

P confirmed the motion is carried and offered congratulations to IPA Ireland.

#sheisIPA Campaign

International Visitors to Dublin City

Martin Hoffmann interview on

PolicingTV

Meeting the International Police Association’s President Mr. Martin Hoffmann.

In this first video in a series of three recorded for #PolicingTV, May-Britt Rinaldo Ronnebro from IPA Section Sweden talks to fellow IPA Member, Martin Hoffmann from IPA Section Austria

These are the latest videos in a #SheIsIPA series led for PolicingTV by May-Britt.

This video in Celebration of International Women’s day looks at Martin’s focus on including female IPA members in the IPA on local, regional, and national levels with a specific focus on attracting women  for international positions in commissions and the next IEB.

In this first interview Martin presents an IPA strategy for the coming four years. In the second he goes on to share his first years as police officer in Vienna, Austria and the first female police officers to join the force.

Martin Hoffmann has, as the International President of the International Executive Board (IEB) of International Police Association (IPA) together with the IEB, presented a strategy for the coming four years of their term.

The strategy includes an Advisor for the IEB on diversity, equality and inclusion. Additionally one project “Women in IPA” and several other projects focusing on retention and recruitment of members.

In these interviews Martin highlights the importance of inclusion of diversities in the IPA, highlighting the importance of women in policing and the International Police Association (IPA). Martin shares his background in policing and his involvement with IPA.

The conversation covers topics such as gender balance in policing, memories from Hoffmann’s time as a police officer, his transition to the prison service, and the pillars of IPA. The conversation also emphasizes the need for recruitment and retention of members, the #SheIsIPA initiative, and the celebration of International Women’s Day. Martin discusses the Women in IPA project and the importance of inclusion within the organization.

Takeaways from our time with Martin:

» Gender balance in policing is crucial for creating a diverse and inclusive environment.

» The International Police Association (IPA) provides a platform for networking and professional development for police officers worldwide.

» Recruitment and retention of members, especially women, is essential for the growth and success of IPA.

» The #SheIsIPA initiative aims to empower women in policing and highlight their achievements. International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women in policing and advocate for gender equality.

The International Police Association (IPA) is a friendship organisation for members of the police force, whether in employment or retired, and without distinction as to rank, position, gender, race, language, age, or religion.

The IPA has around 372,000 members in nearly 100 countries. #ipaiac #police “iwd2024 #ipaoutandabout

IPA Clare Treasure Hunt

The IPA Clare Regions Treasure Hunt Fundraiser bounced back after a four year interruption by Covid. The popular fun day and fundraiser for “Laura” of friendly rivalry, as always, rounded off the Christmas Holidays before the schools reopened.

The day kicked off at Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis at 2.00pm on Sunday (With the generous support of the Madden familyhotel owners).

The event welcomed friends, family and colleagues of all ages - 5 to 95.

The “Bragging Rights” tag for the winners was hotly contested.

Overheads were minimal with participants and supporters donating Christmas ‘surpluses’ as prizes allowing €200 for “Laura” after the day.

Clare IPA thanks everyone for their generous support and looks forward to next year for another day of friendly rivalry for “Laura” on Sunday 5th January 2025!!

Servo per Amikeco

Clare IPA Region #28

International

Visiting

Japanese

With

German

Martin

Happy Happy work life

Shift work is a prominent aspect of the working culture of An Garda Síochána, the national police service of Ireland. As part of their duties to ensure the safety and security of the public, members of An Garda Síochána work in shifts around the clock, 365 days a year. This means that there is always a team of trained professionals on duty to respond to emergencies and attend to any crime or incidents that may arise. This includes night shifts, weekends, and holidays. The nature of shift work in the Gardaí allows for a constant and visible police presence in communities at all times. This also allows for a more efficient response to incidents as officers are on duty and ready to act when needed. However, shift work can also be physically and mentally demanding, and the Gardaí have implemented various measures such as regular shift rotations and breaks to ensure the well-being of their officers. Overall, shift work plays a crucial role in the functioning of the Gardaí and their ability to provide round-theclock protection and service to the people of Ireland.

Shift work is a common practice in many industries, especially in the healthcare and service sectors, where round-the-clock operations are necessary. While shift work can offer flexibility and increased productivity, it can also have a significant impact on an individual’s health. The most obvious effect of shift work is on sleep patterns, as employees often have to work during the night or early morning hours, disrupting the body’s natural circadian rhythm. This can lead to fatigue, decreased alertness, and an increased risk of accidents and errors. Shift workers are also more prone to developing various health issues such as cardiovascular disease, digestive problems, and mental health disorders due to the disruption of their body’s internal clock. Moreover, working irregular hours can also have a negative impact on family and social life, causing stress and affecting personal relationships. Therefore, it is crucial for employers to provide adequate support and resources to their shift workers, such as flexible scheduling and proper breaks, to help mitigate the potential negative effects on their health. Additionally, individuals working in shifts should prioritise maintaining a healthy lifestyle by getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and staying physically active to counteract the challenges of shift work.

Finding a balance between the needs of an organisation and the needs of its personnel is an extremely difficult challenge. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the roster that was being utilised by An Garda Síochána was drastically changed to ensure that the organisation was able to function during these precarious times whist ensuring the protection of its members from this uncertain virus. The roster that was implemented offered Gardaí the opportunity to work 4 days on and 4 days off. This proved very popular with rank-and-file members who were able to maintain a positive work/life balance. Absenteeism reduced, productivity increased, and members morale appeared to grow. As the pandemic continued to spread and cause havoc in our communities and hospitals many organisations

including An Garda Síochána implemented a work from home policy which offered employers the ability to continue operating during these uncertain times of employment.

Fast forward to 2023 and the Irish government has gone so far as to introduce the Work Life and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 which provides all employees with the right to request remote working arrangements. Furthermore, the Workplace Relations Commission has adopted a code of practice that will govern requests by workers to seek remote working arrangements. The adoption of this new legislation has provided greater opportunities to employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle whilst continuing to provide for the needs of the organisation.

Absenteeism reduced, productivity increased, and members morale appeared to grow.

Finally, one must conclude that given the recent changes in legislation within the Irish labour force, it is apparent that government departments appear to be more cognisant of the views of its population. Employers and employees alike appear to be on a more level playing field when it comes to agreeing on enhanced work life balances. Many commentators will agree that these enhancements have led to greater productivity and efficiencies from employees whilst offering organisations significant savings when it comes to reduced requirement for office space and all its associated costs.

Gimborn Seminar

4th to 8th September 2023

Modern

Slavery & Human Tra cking

For several years, the IBZ has been offering seminars in foreign languages, some with simultaneous translation, in order to successfully address interested parties from other countries. Seminars in English, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Spanish and Romanian have a permanent place in the annual program. Every year, police officers from more than 30 different countries come to Gimborn to get to know other cultures and ways of thinking, the similarities and differences in the conditions and attempts to solve police tasks in our everyday roles. I was lucky enough to win the IPA Ireland Gimborn Competition for 2023 and I attended the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking course from the 4th to 8th September 2023. There were Police Officers from 32 different nations taking part in the course.

This seminar dealt with International, national, regional and domestic modern slavery profiles and links to other areas of criminality or crime types. Human Trafficking is a serious global issue that effects every country on earth. Environmental and personal factors most associated with Modern Slavery and circumstances or locations where modern slavery is more likely to occur. The roles of law enforcement, other statutory agencies, commercial organisations and charities in supporting modern slavery investigations and supporting victims was presented as well as appropriate skills and investigative tactics which can be utilised to support victims and progress modern slavery investigations including Financial, Cyber & International enquiries.

The seminar was delivered through a range of presentations, case studies, audio/video presentations, guest speakers and group activities to explore the content. It was structured into modules, each focusing on a specific aspect of the subject matter ensuring that we all developed a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. The course materials, such as presentations, handouts, and additional resources, were provided to support our learning experience. They used a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, group activities, and practical exercises, to engage participants and facilitate effective learning. The instructors encouraged active participation and provided opportunities for us to ask questions and clarify doubts. During the course, I had the opportunity to interact with other participants, which enriched the learning experience. The diverse backgrounds and perspectives of the Officers from different countries contributed to insightful discussions and a collaborative learning environment. I really enjoyed listening to the Guest Speakers with their wealth of knowledge and their expertise on the relevant topics. A survivor spoke with us on one of the days through Zoom and we were offered to engage and ask questions.

Attending this course was a rewarding experience. It equipped me with a solid foundation in with regard to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking and enhanced my understanding of key concepts. I believe that the knowledge and skills gained from this course will be valuable in my personal and professional development. I would like to express my gratitude to the instructors and organisers for their efforts in delivering a well-structured and informative course. In the evenings we had some down time where we had some group discussions, could get involved in sport activities and also spend some time socialising in the “Turnbar” in the castle, which was a very joyful experience. Midweek we also took a trip into Cologne to experience the local sights, cuisine and beverages as a group. I highly recommend this course to individuals interested and look forward to attending another course at IBZ Gimborn.

Deborah O’Neill, Garda, 34667e

Gimborne

THE TITANIC COMPANY OWNER WHO SOUGHT EXILE IN A CONNEMARA VILLAGE

Following on from our series on the Titanic, contributor James Healy has written this short piece on a little known connection between the Ship’s owner and a small village in Connemara, where he lived out his days away from the negative attention he attracted in London.

One may very well ask what possible connection could there be between the owner of the Titanic’s White Star Line and a small West of Ireland village situated along the Atlantic coast in Connemara. The answer would be Bruce Ismay and Costello which is now known by its Irish name of Casla.

Joseph Bruce Ismay was born in Liverpool on the 12th December, 1862 into a family who were engaged in the shipbuilding industry which had been established by this grandfather and carried on by his father. He was educated at Harrow and when his education was complete he moved to the United States to become a White Star Line Agent in New York. There he met his future wife, American citizen Julia Florence, who was to become the mother of his four children.

His father died when he was 36 and Bruce having returned from the United States inherited the management of the White Star Line as senior partner in the company name registered as Ismay Imrie and Co, which went on to produce a number of very successful liners.

The Titanic was Ismay’s brainchild and with the help of Belfast shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, and its chairman William Perrie, it was designed by Comber, Co. Down born Thomas Andrews to be the most luxurious liner then known to mankind, and to surpass its great rival - the Cunard liners on the North Atlantic route.

On the fateful day of April 15, 1912, when on its maiden voyage from Cobh to New York, Bruce Ismay was on board, as

of being lowered down, I just got into it”. One of the official investigations held in his favour by reaching the conclusion that “had he (Ismay) not jumped in, he would merely added one more life to the numbers lost’’.

was customary for all company chairmen on a ship’s maiden voyage. When the ship collided with the iceberg and was sinking he leapt from the starboard side of the ship into one of the last remaining lifeboats that had been launched, with the sole intention of escaping with his own life when many of the women and children were yet still on board, destined to go down with the sinking ship. This was in contrast with the ship’s captain Edward Smith who remained on board at the wheelhouse to the very end, giving directions before going down with the ship losing his life.

After Ismay had been picked up from his lifeboat by the liner RMS Adriatic, and on returning to the United Kingdom, he learned that his reputation was at a very low ebb indeed. He was slaughtered by both the British and American press. He was accused of undertaking a voyage to the United States with a liner that did not have adequate lifeboats for all passengers.

Secondly, there were allegations that a number of passengers who heard him urging Captain Smith to maintain the speed of the Titanic of 21 knots so that it could arrive in New York ahead of the scheduled arriving time, therefore increasing the liners profile on this lucrative Atlantic route. Thirdly, he was accused of saving his own life while many women and children on board perished. In this regard, the only official statement he made during the two official enquiries to the tragedy was that “There was a certain number of men in the boat and the officer called out if there were any more women and children. There were no passengers in our sight on the deck although we could hear them from afar, and as the boat was in the act

The American press was in no doubt who to blame for the Titanic tragedy laying the disaster firmly at the door of Bruce Ismay. At the beginning of the 20th century, William Randolph Hearst was a powerful magnate in the United States newspaper industry and some twenty years before the tragedy, when Ismay was the White Star Line’s agent in New York, Hearst accused him of refusing to co-operate with his own newspaper and many other newspaper publications which angered Hearst. After the tragedy, he took the opportunity to exact his revenge by printing a cartoon in one of his newspapers with Ismay in a lifeboat watching the Titanic sinking with the headline “This is J Brute Ismay and we respectfully suggest that the emblem of the White star be changed to that of a yellow liver’’

Having returned to England, Bruce Ismay resigned as Chairman of the White Star Line in June, 1913. The company subsequently got into serious financial difficulty in 1934 and had to merge with its long-time rival Cunard, ironically the shipping company that owned the liner the RMS Carpathia that dragged Ismay from a lifeboat before he perished in the freezing Atlantic waters. Ismay tried to resume a normal life in Britain but found this almost impossible as he was the subject of public opinion and shunned by society. Even when he travelled by public transport he had to sit behind blacked out windows to keep himself out of sight of the critical public glare. After spending time in the country of his birth, he realised that he could never escape from been tainted with the Titanic tragedy. He elected, with his wife and four children, to escape into exile and the area that he choose was the Connemara village of Costello, now better known by its Irish name of Casla, situated along the sweeping Atlantic coast and perhaps a grim reminder of his past tragedy as the giant waves swept into the shore from the sea.

There with his wife and family he set up home in Costello Lodge, which at the time consisted of a two-story thatched building. He subsequently overhauled, reconstructed and extended this Lodge which on completion consisted of eight bedrooms, four reception rooms decked out in various Irish, Chinese and English styles, as well as a hand-crafted spiral staircase, all of which indicated that Ismay had not lost his taste for design and excess luxury.

The local people in Costello accepted his family and himself into their community. Although the Ismays were not a Catholic family, they attended local Church services. Perhaps the main reason that they were accepted was that he gave good employment locally as this particular area was very poor at that time. The villagers supplied them with food items such as milk and eggs and in turn if the Ismays were returning to England for a period or going on holidays, they would donate pears and bananas which were a rarity at that time, as well as wrapped and assorted sweets for the children.

Costello and its hinterland, including the nearby Corrib lake, was a lucrative fishing area, particularly for salmon, and in the fishing season different groups would come from England and further afield to say with the Ismays for a number of weeks. Later in the year, other groups would come to stay during the shooting season in the Autumn and Winter. This would result in employment of more than a dozen people from the locality, more or less all year around in Ismay’s Lodge to cater for all these visitors. For all these reasons, the Titanic disaster was never mentioned locally around Costello and nobody had a bad word to say about the Ismays.

Bruce Ismay and his family continued to reside in Costello Lodge until 1936, accepted by the local community and socialising with their own circle of friends. Later that year, having suffered from diabetes, he had to return to London to have one of his legs amputated in a hospital there. He never returned to his Connemara Lodge and in 1937 suffered a stroke and died in London at the age of 74.

Costello Lodge was subsequently sold to a wealthy American named Jack Toohy, who further renovated it and took up residence there entertaining visiting filmmakers and journalists. After his death, Ismay’s widow renounced her British citizenship which she had acquired on marrying her late husband Bruce and moved back to her native United States. Before returning to the US, she donated a limestone memorial to her husband, which is now in the ownership of Cobh Council.

There is no plaque or any other memorial in Costello Lodge to indicate that Joseph Bruce Ismay or his family lived there for over twenty years. The only portrait of him is that which hangs in the local bar in Casla and above it is scale model of the Titanic which would appear to indicate that the weight of the ship’s legacy is forever hanging over his head.

James Ismay

PHOTO BY MARKUS VOTTERON UNSPLASH

PHOTO BYTHE NEW YORK PUPLIC LIBARY ON UNSPLASH

PHOTO BY KEVIN BOSC ON UNSPLASH

James Healy BA, LLB, BL

and 1 (one) triple room (can accommodate 4 beds). In addition. there is a fully equipped communal kitchen, spacious bathroom and balcony. All rooms have airconditioning, TV a refrigerator, linen as well as face and bath towels. Parking is available, either free, in the road in front of the apartment, or guarded at a nominal charge. No pets allowed.

Additonal Information Details

Location Athens

House Manager Koutsovasilis NektariosNikolaos

Bookings Koutsovasilis NektariosNikolaos

International Code GRAT

Number of Rooms 3

Number

7

Bookings: Koutsovasilis Nektarios-Nikolaos

Email: athens.ipa.house@gmail.com

Tel: +358 40 510 7282 and +302105227330

Mobile: +306941486958

Website: http://www.ipa-gr.org

Address: Omonia Square, 21 Acharnon Street, Athens

New IPA Ireland Website & App needs you!

Section Ireland launched our new Website and IPA App in November 2022 and there are already 2,100 members benefitting from our online members area. We were delighted that there were over 6,000 unique site visitors in January 2024 alone.

Users of the App now benefit from much improved communications on IPA news, activities and events, which will be sent directly to the App in the form of a notification on your device’s lockscreen. We hope that this will lead to much improved use of our database, providing you our membership with timely and relevant information. We are hoping to upgrade to include an email notification for each App post in April 2024.

Our Members Area facilitates access to our other online IPA facilities such as IPA Accommodation, IPA Supplies and back issues of the IPA Journal. Regional Committee members are now able to complete and submit activity and travel grant application forms online, directly to the Secretary General. This has already been used successfully by a number of Regions and we are adding more forms this year.

Don’t forget to register for your online members access by completing the following steps:

1. Go to www.ipaireland.org;

2. Click on ‘Members Login’ at the top right corner and complete your details;

3. Note that the IPA Office will have to check and approve your registration details;

4. Once you are approved you will receive a confirmation email;

5. You should now download the App from the Apple or Google Play Stores. You can use these QR codes with your phone’s camera to access if you wish

Remember: You must register and be approved on the website first –then you can sign in on the App. Be sure to permit push notifications in the app settings, and also any internal settings on your device, such as ‘notifications’.

IPA App Sub-Committee

Section Ireland