The Cork teams took gold in the Cadet Team and Novice Team events, and their entrant in the Cadet Individual category, N\xEDamh McCarthy, aged just 13 years, took fourth place at the National First Aid Finals (Cadet & Novices). The finals took place at the weekend in Co. Laois and the Cork entrants, aged from 10 years to 16 years are among the youngest ever.

"This prize is the culmination of months of training by these young people who have shown that age is no barrier to saving lives, if you know the basics, "said the Irish Red Cross Vice-Chairman, Tony Lawlor.

Paying tribute to the organisers of this year's event - the largest ever with entrants from every corner of the country, the Irish Red Cross Vice-Chairman said that the rise in entrants resulted from the growth in members recently due to the very successful Irish Red Cross scheme to place heart-saving defibrillator machines throughout the country.

"Our goal - to double the number of defibrillators in every county in Ireland - has seen a huge surge in our membership numbers and for these people participating in competitions is a great way to meet other Red Cross members and to learn from their experience,\x94 said Tony Lawlor.

And he urged anyone who is interested in learning more about the Irish Red Cross defibrillator scheme or about First Aid, to call the Irish Red Cross on 01 - 642 4600 or to log onto www.redcross.ie

Results of the Cadet and Novice First Aid Finals

The winners of this years Cadet Team from the Ballinora/Ballincollig branch of the Irish Red Cross are aged from 10 to 16 and two of them joined the Irish Red Cross only last year. Although firmly focussed on taking the top slot, these young people have also given care and help at a number of community events in Co. Cork, says team trainer Imeda O'Connor, who paid tribute to her co-trainers Geraldine Cronin and Aileen Murphy.

Second and third place in the Cadet Competition went to Louth and Limerick.

The top individual youngster is Leanne Sullivan from Galway. Second place was won by Aoife Mackin, Co. Louth and third place by Katie Carmody, Co. Limerick..

Second and third place in the Novice Competitions went to Dublin Borough (City) and Limerick.

And the best newcomer to First Aid, was Katie Dunwoody from Dublin Borough (City) who took the top prize in the Novice Individual Competition. Second place was won by Megan Cotter, Co. Galway and third place by Patricia Kerins, Co. Limerick.

Winning Cadet Team names

1. Cork (First Place)
   

   • Team Leader: M\xE1ire FitzGerald
   • Kevin Kelleher
   • Claire Wrenne
   • Amy Kelleher.

2. Louth (Second Place)
   

   • Team Leader: N\xEDamh Mackin
   • P\xE1draic Duffy
   • Orla Kelly
   • Rebecca McGrath.

3. Limerick (Third Place)
   

   • Team Leader: Hugh O'Sullivan
   • Elaine Enright
   • Jack Roche
   • Eimear Shinners

Winning Novice Team names

1. Cork (First Place)
   

   • Team Leader: Orla Murphy
   • Alison O'Shea
   • Tracy Hanly
   • Dearbhla de Barra

2. Dublin Borough (Second Place)
   

   • Team Leader: Nicola McCann
   • Paul McDonagh
   • Eoin Weadick
   • Jessica Doran

3. Limerick (Third Place)
   

   • Team Leader: Sin\xE9ad O'Meara
   • Siobhan Ahern
   • Kennedy O'Brien
   • Nula O'Donovan