Fancy checking out a 2001 Jordan Formula One car (that'll be the EJ10)? Well, you can by visiting the inaugural CRITICAL car show at Fota House in Co. Cork next month.
What is CRITICAL?
CRITICAL is a national charity that runs a network of more than 300 responders active across Ireland who are alerted to life-threatening emergencies by the National Ambulance Service. CRITICAL's volunteers include doctors and consultants equipped with emergency response vehicles and high-tech equipment; Community First Responder (CFR) groups; as well as off-duty paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
The charity has been in operation since 2009 and in 2019 launched the Irish Community Air Ambulance. The service proved so successful that it is now operated by the HSE. Since 2023, CRITICAL has strengthened its ground-based teams and is now operating in 21 counties.
What's the car show all about?
Well, obviously it's a fundraiser for CRITICAL, but it's also a chance for the charity to highlight the important of cars to its operations, and also to give people a nudge in the direction of taking a CPR course or similar, allowing them to act as a first responder in a time of crisis.
Skoda Ireland is sponsoring the show, which seems appropriate given how many paramedics, doctors, and first responders rely on various Skoda models for their work. As well as the EJ10, the event will feature supercars, vintage and classic cars, as well as emergency response vehicles and demonstrations alongside family entertainment and food vendors.
You can click here to read our reviews of Skoda models.
Anything else?
Edward Walsh, CRITICAL Head of Operations and Standards, said, "Having Skoda Ireland as event sponsor is really important to us. Our volunteers are often first at the scene of an emergency and they don't arrive in ambulances, they arrive in cars. We are incredibly grateful to Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens who are generously providing the venue for our inaugural car show. This event is about bringing the reality of emergency response into the public space in a way people can see, experience and connect with. Every single day across Ireland, CRITICAL responders are helping people during the worst moments of their lives. The support we receive from communities, businesses and the public is what allows us to continue doing that work. The CRITICAL Car Show is about awareness, community and ultimately saving lives.”
Michele Hillenbrand, CRITICAL Community Fundraising Officer, added, "The cars will absolutely attract people on the day, but what we really hope people leave with is a greater understanding of emergency response and the importance of those first few critical minutes before an ambulance arrives. We want families to come along, enjoy the day, learn CPR, meet responders, and see first-hand the incredible work being carried out by volunteers across Ireland.”