Gowan Distributors Limited, Peugeot Importers in Ireland, received a Community & Social Responsibility Award at the annual Irish Water Safety National Awards Ceremony 2015, held at The Printworks Conference Centre at Dublin Castle on 17 November. The Minister of Environment, Community and Local Government, Minister Alan Kelly and Breda Collins, Chairman of Irish Water Safety, presented the award to Gowan Distributors in recognition of the company’s support towards the purchase of and sign writing on a new Peugeot Boxer van for Irish Water Safety.
The Peugeot Boxer van is today used by Irish Water Safety volunteers to transport necessary equipment for lifesaving sport competitions both in Ireland and abroad and to exhibitions around the country. The vibrant Irish Water Safety signage on the vehicle, delivers key messages to the passing public about how to stay safe in and around water and draws attention to Irish Water Safety courses available and the charity’s social media channels, as the vehicle travels around the country.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Breda Collins said, “The new Peugeot Boxer van will mobilise the resources required to run Irish Water Safety lifesaving sport events and additional drowning prevention campaigns nationwide. The additional sponsorship of water safety messages on the vehicle will further help to prevent tragic drownings and raise public awareness of best practices when visiting our aquatic environments. We are deeply grateful to Gowan Distributors for helping us to raise awareness and reduce drownings.”
Irish Water Safety is a registered charity with 4,000 voluntary members nationwide and a statutory body established in 1945 to reduce drownings in Ireland. Attendees at this year’s awards ceremony honoured 42 remarkable rescuers who saved 28 lives and saw 14 Community and Social Responsibility Awards bestowed to parties who have assisted Irish Water Safety in 2015. Homage was paid to 84 individual Irish Water Safety volunteers from around Ireland for teaching swimming, rescue and water survival skills. Lily Barrett and Bernard Cahill, European Senior Surf Race Champion, both from County Clare, were jointly named Sports Person of the Year.
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Pic 1
Pictured from left to right are: Simon McGarrigle, Irish Water Safety Sports Commission Member; Emma Toner, Marketing Manager, Gowan Distributors Ltd., Peugeot Importers in Ireland; Breda Collins, Chairman of Irish Water Safety; Seamus O’Neill, Irish Water Safety Sports Commission Chairman, who was presented with a Long-Service award for his 40-year service at Irish Water Safety.
Pic 2
Pictured from left to right are: Breda Collins, Chairman of Irish Water Safety; Emma Toner, Marketing Manager, Gowan Distributors Ltd., Peugeot Importers in Ireland; Minister Alan Kelly, Minister of Environment, Community and Local Government.
