New Chief Fire Officer welcomed

At the September monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, elected members and management welcomed Tipperary native Sinéad Sweeney, who recently took up the role of Chief Fire Officer.

Sinéad, who joins from Wicklow Fire and Rescue Service, will manage Cavan County Council’s Fire Service, a role which will see her oversee the county’s ten fire brigades, and which also includes management of Major Emergency Planning, Building Control, and Civil Defence.

Sinéad has a strong academic foundation holding an honours degree in Materials Science and a postgraduate diploma in Fire Safety Practice. In 2019 she was awarded a first-class honours Master of Business having previously obtained a higher-level Certificate in Health, Safety and Environmental Management.  

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Councillor John Paul Feeley has welcomed the appointment, saying, “Sinéad brings a wealth of experience to the position, having spent the last two decades working in the fire services of five different local authorities, accumulating vast knowledge, and steadily progressing up the ‘professional ladder’ from a retained firefighter to her current role”.

Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Eoin Doyle also hailed the appointment, saying “With a progressive career of over 24 years in fire service operational, technical fire safety, and emergency management roles, Sinéad brings leadership authenticity, experience, and significant and tangible value to our fire service. I look forward to working with Sinéad as we continue to develop what is a modern, professional, and dynamic fire service in the county”.   

Margaret McNally, Head of Finance, Information Systems, and Emergency Services, added, “We are delighted to welcome Sinéad to Cavan, where she will build upon the excellent progress made by her predecessor, Noel O’Reilly and before that, Noel Burke. Boasting a wealth of experience, garnered across six local authorities, I have no doubt that Sinéad will prove an innovative and inspirational leader of our fire service”.

Pictured at Cavan Town Fire Station are (left to right) Head of Finance, Information Systems and Emergency Services, Margaret McNally; Chief Fire Officer Sinéad Sweeney; and Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley
Pictured at Cavan Town Fire Station are (left to right) Head of Finance, Information Systems and Emergency Services, Margaret McNally; Chief Fire Officer Sinéad Sweeney; and Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley