Campaign for Ireland's first flying health service is in the works

A campaign for Ireland’s first flying doctor service is under way for Munster and south Leinster where a signature red helicopter is touching down on islands, peninsulas, and renowned football stadiums from Enniscorthy to Killarney to Cape Clear.

The community-funded service will be based on the Welsh air ambulance service which is also community funded, is in its 15th year and operates four helicopters with doctors on board.

Spokeswoman for the Irish Community Air Ambulance organisation, Ann Kelly, said in a region where there are few motorways and the geography is challenging, it can take hours for an ambulance to get to an incident.