If you are not sure what to have in the house in case of an emergency, or if you want to know what Meath County Council does to be ready for all sorts of emergencies, the Council is encouraging you to listen into the Local Lens podcast released this (Tuesday, 3 February 2026). The second episode of the second season entitled “Emergency Ready: Meath Response” is about being as ‘emergency ready’ as possible and a key part of this is the request for everyone to check they are signed up to the free text alert system MapAlerter.ie.
Another key initiative is the Meath Community Preparedness Alliance, where people who feel their household would need additional support during an emergency can register. An information packed episode, it gives an insight into how national structures and plans, link in with regional and local resources.
In studio are Meath County Council Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe, Keith Leonard, National Director for Fire & Emergency Management, Meath Chief Fire Officer Sheila Broderick and Shane Quinn, Civil Defence Officer, Meath County Council. You will also hear how joining the Meath Civil Defence resulted in one volunteer deciding to change career, and subsequently meeting his future wife.
Speaking on the podcast, Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe says: “It gives great pride to me, and a reassurance to the people of Meath, to listen to the phenomenal, professional and high-quality services we have. As a local authority when there is time of crisis, we will be there, but I have to say there is nothing better in times of an emergency than how the communities help each other, and I have seen that to a phenomenal level in Meath.”
Keith Leonard explains the national framework and structures for national responses to emergencies. This involves working closely with Met Éireann and when the signs of a storm are seen, work begins on the best response. There are around 1,400 calls to Meath Fire and Rescue Service every year, says Chief Fire Office Sheila Broderick. She talks about extensive inter-agency training and familiarisation, “between the fire service, ambulance service, the guards, and then the voluntary services, including civil defence. It’s a very rounded approach between the local authority and the other services in emergency response.”
Civil Defence Officer Shane Quinn explained that the role of the organisation is to provide assistance to the principal response agencies. “We provide support to the guards in form of search and rescue, to the fire service and the local authority in times of flooding or severe weather. We’ll provide assistance to the ambulance service for medical response whether that is providing first aid cover or assisting with ambulance transfers in times of a major emergency.”
The guests also heard the experience of volunteer David Brady. He was an electrical contractor but after joining Civil Defence he decided to change career and is now an Emergency Medical Technician. He also met his future wife as she too had joined Meath Civil Defence.
Local Lens, Season 2, Episode 2, Emergency Ready: Meath Response is available now wherever you get your podcasts.
Local Lens is presented by Elaine Keogh and the Executive Producer/Editor is Ailish Shaw.
Contact: locallens@meathcoco.ie.
Above pictured L to R: Shane Quinn, Civil Defence Officer, Meath County Council, Meath Chief Fire Officer Sheila Broderick, Meath County Council Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe, and Keith Leonard, National Director for Fire & Emergency Management.
