Water Angels
Speech by Mr Frank Nolan, Chairman of Irish Water Safety at the launch:
Water Angel’s sponsorship towards PAWS.
Distinguished Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen!
It is a great pleasure for me as Chairman of Irish Water Safety to be present here this evening to acknowledge receipt of the kind sponsorship over the coming three years of 180,000 Euro, which is to be paid annually in moieties of 60,000 Euro, kindly donated to us by the Water Angels Association. This will finance and promote water safety awareness to our children within the Primary Schools of Ireland, ensuring that the water safety awareness message will be brought to all corners of the country and that children are aware of the dangers of water that surrounds them at every turn. At the same time, they being able to enjoy a great natural resource that is available to them at the beach, lakes, rivers, ponds, pools, canals and especially in the home.
We are an Island Nation and as the Statutory Body responsible for Water Safety, we must at all times ensure that all persons, but more particularly our children have an opportunity to learn the basic rules that will maintain their safety, when close to, on or in water. To-day, we acknowledge with sincere thanks and gratitude and the kind sponsorship given to us by the Water Angels Association. We thank them for coming on board with us to bring the Primary Aquatics Water Safety Scheme (PAWS) to our schools which will be achieved through the employment (over the next three years) of a person, who will visit Primary Schools and deliver the message directly to the children. We are aware of the wonderful work done by the Water Angels, which has been established to assist with projects similar to our PAWS initiative in other countries.
The Water Angels association was founded in March 2006 to help raise an awareness of water safety and drowning, particularly with emphasis on children. It was founded by two remarkable people - Mark and Lynn Quinlan who had moved to Marbella from Co. Meath in Ireland, to open their new Restaurant some 4 years ago. Regretfully! while there, they lost their beloved son "Leon" through a drowning accident. Mark and Lynn were concerned that Water Safety Awareness for those who live in foreign countries or take a holiday was not a priority. Therefore, they took the initiative to do something about this void and with the help of others, decided to address the problem and formed a Committee to help address the issue. The inaugural Water Angels Ball was held in July 2006 and substantial funds were raised by the many friends and kind sponsorships given to the Association. To date, the Water Angels have supported three major water safety projects, two in Spain and the Irish Water Safety project here in Ireland. It would be very remiss of me if I did not say to "Mark and Lynn" that your Dear Son "Leon" will not be forgotten by his unfortunate and untimely death through drowning – your efforts (in his memory) and that of your Committee will save many other young children worldwide from such drowning accidents. It will further, assist in parents not having to suffer the great hurt and loss that you have suffered in the past few years I know that you will receive solace and be comforted by the fact that something positive is being done in memory of Leon.
I wish to thank each of your committee, many of whom are here with us to day.
Leah Besusan, Catherine Higgins, Mary Hogan, Kissandra McAnthony Reilly, Mark Quinlan, Alberto Mc Bensusan, Gerry Higgins, Maurice Boland for their sterling efforts in promoting water safety awareness.
Regretfully, I was not in a position to attend the Photo Shoot this morning in Blackrock , but I do wish to thank the Minister for Education, Ms. Mary Hanafin T.D. for agreeing to come along to support this project at a time, when no doubt! she is extremely busy with the affairs of her Department and indeed the forthcoming General Election.
Sincere thanks also to Michael Murphy, Council Member of Irish Water Safety and to the members of his Education Commission who developed the PAWS project coupled with the Jaws programme, that ensures our Primary and Secondary Schools have a means by which Water Safety Awareness forms part of the school curriculum.
Special thanks to the Department of Education and their Chief Examiner – Eamonn Murtagh – for the funding given to us over the years and the support that we require when dealing with the schools and colleges throughout the country. A letter from the Minister of Education to the Primary School Teachers informing them of this project by Irish Water Safety and the Water Angels Association would help ensure that a kind reception for our Project Manager was forthcoming when he calls over the coming years to the schools?
Thanks to Kathryn Byrne and the members of her Promotions Commission of IWS, who progressed the contact and the seeking of the help of the Water Angel’s Association. It would be remiss of me if I did not single out for special mention - Roger Sweeney our Marketing Officer for his dedication and special effort to ensure that all has run smoothly and thanks also to Toni Wall on behalf of the Water Angels.
We also wish to thank all the Media personnel who never fail to support us in time of need, we can spend millions on projects, but without them helping us to get our message across such as at this launch – we would be fighting a losing battle.
As to days launch is about Children, I want to thanks the kids that helped us this morning from the Guardian Angel’s National School involved in the photo shoot, I am reliably informed they did a wonderful job – thanks and thanks to your parent and teachers.
On a personal note, I am aware of several parents like Mark and Lynn that have lost their loved children through drowning accidents. To comfort them in their loss is impossible, but to assure them that Irish Water Safety with kind financial support and the help of our sponsors, such as the Water Angels concerning Water Safety Awareness in Ireland does help to alleviate the pain they experience and knowing that other parents will not suffer likewise. One final word of advice as we come into the summer within the Northern Hemisphere, many of us will go on holidays with our children, both at home and abroad and we must remember that water safety standards from country to country varies, even within Europe, therefore be water wise with your special Angels as you enjoy life and the holiday together.
In conclusion, I again thank you all for coming here to support the two Organisations in this endeavour and hopefully in three years time we will be in a position to report back to you concerning a successful conclusion to our efforts. Bearing in mind that our long term goal for our children is "every person a swimmer and every swimmer a lifesaver".
Frank Nolan.
Chairman.
Irish Water Safety.
Press Releases 2007
Please click on Photo's
Speech by Mr Frank Nolan, Chairman of Irish Water Safety at the launch:
Water Angel’s sponsorship towards PAWS.
Distinguished Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen!
It is a great pleasure for me as Chairman of Irish Water Safety to be present here this evening to acknowledge receipt of the kind sponsorship over the coming three years of 180,000 Euro, which is to be paid annually in moieties of 60,000 Euro, kindly donated to us by the Water Angels Association. This will finance and promote water safety awareness to our children within the Primary Schools of Ireland, ensuring that the water safety awareness message will be brought to all corners of the country and that children are aware of the dangers of water that surrounds them at every turn. At the same time, they being able to enjoy a great natural resource that is available to them at the beach, lakes, rivers, ponds, pools, canals and especially in the home.
We are an Island Nation and as the Statutory Body responsible for Water Safety, we must at all times ensure that all persons, but more particularly our children have an opportunity to learn the basic rules that will maintain their safety, when close to, on or in water. To-day, we acknowledge with sincere thanks and gratitude and the kind sponsorship given to us by the Water Angels Association. We thank them for coming on board with us to bring the Primary Aquatics Water Safety Scheme (PAWS) to our schools which will be achieved through the employment (over the next three years) of a person, who will visit Primary Schools and deliver the message directly to the children. We are aware of the wonderful work done by the Water Angels, which has been established to assist with projects similar to our PAWS initiative in other countries.
The Water Angels association was founded in March 2006 to help raise an awareness of water safety and drowning, particularly with emphasis on children. It was founded by two remarkable people - Mark and Lynn Quinlan who had moved to Marbella from Co. Meath in Ireland, to open their new Restaurant some 4 years ago. Regretfully! while there, they lost their beloved son "Leon" through a drowning accident. Mark and Lynn were concerned that Water Safety Awareness for those who live in foreign countries or take a holiday was not a priority. Therefore, they took the initiative to do something about this void and with the help of others, decided to address the problem and formed a Committee to help address the issue. The inaugural Water Angels Ball was held in July 2006 and substantial funds were raised by the many friends and kind sponsorships given to the Association. To date, the Water Angels have supported three major water safety projects, two in Spain and the Irish Water Safety project here in Ireland. It would be very remiss of me if I did not say to "Mark and Lynn" that your Dear Son "Leon" will not be forgotten by his unfortunate and untimely death through drowning – your efforts (in his memory) and that of your Committee will save many other young children worldwide from such drowning accidents. It will further, assist in parents not having to suffer the great hurt and loss that you have suffered in the past few years I know that you will receive solace and be comforted by the fact that something positive is being done in memory of Leon.
I wish to thank each of your committee, many of whom are here with us to day.
Leah Besusan, Catherine Higgins, Mary Hogan, Kissandra McAnthony Reilly, Mark Quinlan, Alberto Mc Bensusan, Gerry Higgins, Maurice Boland for their sterling efforts in promoting water safety awareness.
Regretfully, I was not in a position to attend the Photo Shoot this morning in Blackrock , but I do wish to thank the Minister for Education, Ms. Mary Hanafin T.D. for agreeing to come along to support this project at a time, when no doubt! she is extremely busy with the affairs of her Department and indeed the forthcoming General Election.
Sincere thanks also to Michael Murphy, Council Member of Irish Water Safety and to the members of his Education Commission who developed the PAWS project coupled with the Jaws programme, that ensures our Primary and Secondary Schools have a means by which Water Safety Awareness forms part of the school curriculum.
Special thanks to the Department of Education and their Chief Examiner – Eamonn Murtagh – for the funding given to us over the years and the support that we require when dealing with the schools and colleges throughout the country. A letter from the Minister of Education to the Primary School Teachers informing them of this project by Irish Water Safety and the Water Angels Association would help ensure that a kind reception for our Project Manager was forthcoming when he calls over the coming years to the schools?
Thanks to Kathryn Byrne and the members of her Promotions Commission of IWS, who progressed the contact and the seeking of the help of the Water Angel’s Association. It would be remiss of me if I did not single out for special mention - Roger Sweeney our Marketing Officer for his dedication and special effort to ensure that all has run smoothly and thanks also to Toni Wall on behalf of the Water Angels.
We also wish to thank all the Media personnel who never fail to support us in time of need, we can spend millions on projects, but without them helping us to get our message across such as at this launch – we would be fighting a losing battle.
As to days launch is about Children, I want to thanks the kids that helped us this morning from the Guardian Angel’s National School involved in the photo shoot, I am reliably informed they did a wonderful job – thanks and thanks to your parent and teachers.
On a personal note, I am aware of several parents like Mark and Lynn that have lost their loved children through drowning accidents. To comfort them in their loss is impossible, but to assure them that Irish Water Safety with kind financial support and the help of our sponsors, such as the Water Angels concerning Water Safety Awareness in Ireland does help to alleviate the pain they experience and knowing that other parents will not suffer likewise. One final word of advice as we come into the summer within the Northern Hemisphere, many of us will go on holidays with our children, both at home and abroad and we must remember that water safety standards from country to country varies, even within Europe, therefore be water wise with your special Angels as you enjoy life and the holiday together.
In conclusion, I again thank you all for coming here to support the two Organisations in this endeavour and hopefully in three years time we will be in a position to report back to you concerning a successful conclusion to our efforts. Bearing in mind that our long term goal for our children is "every person a swimmer and every swimmer a lifesaver".
Frank Nolan.
Chairman.
Irish Water Safety.
Press Releases 2007
Please click on Photo's
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