New headquarters needed for Order of Malta in Mayo's county town
By Tom Gillespie
THE Order of Malta has a proud history in Castlebar and one of the leading members over the years is Tom ‘God’ Jennings, who has been associated with the organisation for four decades.
However, the Order’s headquarters at Pavilion Road, Castlebar, according to Tom, a second lieutenant, is ‘no longer fit for purpose’.
And despite their efforts, sufficient funds for a new building have not been secured.
Tom, unfortunately, is recuperating from a freak but serious road accident, which has left him unable to walk. But with ongoing treatment he hopes to become involved with the Order again in the not too distant future.
Over the years Tom and his colleagues have provided first aid cover at events countywide.
Tom recalled one of the major call-outs he attended.
He said: “That was the train crash in Claremorris in 1989. It happened on Sunday, April 24, when a train carrying 495 Dublin pilgrims on their way to Knock Shrine was derailed at Ballygowan, about a mile from Claremorris, when it ran into a herd of cattle.
“The last seven carriages of the train completely toppled over, some into a 15-foot dyke.
“That morning I was with the late John Cunningham and Jarlath Cunningham working on an Order of Malta ambulance outside John’s house on the Breaffy Road when Garda Maurice Dowling, who was on duty in the garda barracks, rang John’s house and John’s wife, Mary, told us of the crash and we were asked to help. We transported the walking injured to the hospital in Castlebar.”
He continued: “I got involved with the Order of Malta as a youngster and when I got my driving licence I was driving with John (Cunningham). We helped out at different functions.”
Tom was nicknamed ‘God’ because of his involvement in a plethora of organisations in Castlebar, meaning he could turn up everywhere.
He continued: “The Order of Malta has served Castlebar well.
“At the moment we have to launch a drive for the erection of a new HQ as the old building at Pavilion Road is not suitable for purpose. We have tried to get funding but it ain’t just coming for some reason. The funding isn’t there and it is hard to get.
“However, we are very grateful to Murray Ambulance who have been very supportive of the Order of Malta. We have a garage at the back of the Order of Malta building where we store our ambulance and that is where we do training because our own building is not suitable and Murray Ambulance supplied that garage.
“There is very good will out there for the Order of Malta but now we need someone to spearhead a fundraising drive for a new building.”
At the moment there are 40 members and 25 cadets, from 10 upwards, in the Castlebar Order.
He added: “It is great to see new blood coming in and there are lots of the older people who were involved over the years still driving for us.
“We do a lot of patient transfers to hospitals where the likes of the units in Louisburgh, Ballinrobe and Knock concentrate on road accidents and taking people who have to be moved to hospital from the locality where it could take several hours to get a health board ambulance.
“Because the HSE have an ambulance base in Castlebar we never got involved in what they do.”
Tom continued: “I am a second lieutenant in the Order of Malta. I am there 40 years and I have a lot of medals from different events. Since 2018 I handled over the baton to Liam McHugh who is a young officer-in-charge and was recently promoted to lieutenant.
“He looks after the whole running of the show. He is a superb young lad coming up the ranks and he will keep the Order of Malta going in Castlebar.”
He added: “Many former Order of Malta members are now doctors, nurses and ambulance technicians - all because they trained through the Order of Malta down the years.
“In 2010, when I was the officer-in-charge, I hosted the Fra’ Grand Master of the Order of Malta who was based in Rome. If a Pope dies and they go to elect a new Pope the Fra’ is in charge of locking and opening the doors in the Vatican.”
Tom recalled with pride many former members in Castlebar, including Michel Joe Egan, Leo McHugh from the Newport Road, Tommy Robinson, Eddie Lynn, John and Jarlath Cunningham, Heather Heneghan, Maura Gilligan and Paul Carty.