24/07/2026
Here is a letter you can copy and paste and send to your local representatives in Donegal CoCo. Please check the comment underneath for a list of emails you can send it to.
It would be amazing (and would boost the power of this post) if you could please confirm that you are going to write to your reps, even by commenting done. Please also cc the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive of Donegal CoCo to make the issue something they cannot ignore.
Subject: Urgent Request to Protect Arranmore Island Fire Service
Dear Councillor,
I am writing to ask for your immediate support in protecting the future of Arranmore Island Fire Service.
The people of Arranmore deserve the same level of emergency protection as every other community in Ireland. Fire does not discriminate based on geography, and neither should access to a properly staffed fire service.
For many years, Arranmore Fire Station has operated with two retained (paid) firefighter positions alongside dedicated volunteers. With the retirement of those firefighters, Donegal County Council has chosen not to refill those positions. Instead, the future of the service now appears to depend entirely on recruiting sufficient volunteers, with the possibility that the station could ultimately be removed from the island if those volunteers cannot be found.
This places an unfair burden on a small island community and creates unnecessary uncertainty around an essential emergency service.
The firefighters on Arranmore complete the same training, meet the same professional standards, and respond to the same emergencies as firefighters elsewhere in Ireland. They protect permanent residents, older people, businesses, schools, visitors, and the thousands of tourists who come to the island each year.
It is difficult to understand why Arranmore should receive a lower level of protection than other communities. The Aran Islands in County Galway, the only other island in Ireland with its own fire station, benefits from a fully retained firefighting service. We are simply asking that Arranmore be afforded the same commitment to public safety.
This is not a request for special treatment. It is a request for equal treatment.
As one of our elected representatives, I ask that you:
- Publicly support the retention of Arranmore Fire Station.
- Call on Donegal County Council to replace the retiring retained firefighters.
- Ensure that the island continues to receive a properly resourced fire and emergency service for the long term.
- Raise this issue at Council level and advocate for a sustainable staffing solution before public safety is compromised.
The loss or weakening of this service would have serious consequences for the safety and resilience of our island community. We should not have to wait for a tragedy before recognising the importance of maintaining adequate emergency cover.
I respectfully ask you to stand with the people of Arranmore and help ensure that our community continues to receive the protection it deserves.
Thank you for your time and for your commitment to representing the people of Donegal. I look forward to hearing what action you will take in support of this vital service.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Town/County]
