Pictured at Cavan Town Fire Station are (from left) 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.

New Chief Fire Officer welcomed to County Cavan

Zoe Tunney

Published: Wed 17 Sep 2025, 10:51 AM

THE NEW Chief Fire officer for County Cavan was introduced at the council’s most recent sitting.

Sinead Sweeney, who hails from Tipperary, took up the lead role in the summer when she left her job as Chief Fire Officer in Wicklow Fire and Rescue Service to make Cavan her new home.

Cavan is the sixth fire service Sinead has worked in saying herself that she “moved around and up the ranks” before taking the management role here.

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.

Addressing members at September’s monthly meeting of Cavan County Council Sinead said: “The geographical landscape and location in Cavan is not dis-similar to north Tipperary so, I’ve settled in well.”

She also spoke briefly about her experience in various fire services, in civil defence training and in executing different aspects of the job like overseeing building control applications and regulations in her county areas.

The first councillor to welcome Sinead Sweeney in her new role was retired Ballyconnell Fire Station officer, Cllr Damien Brady (SF) who said Ms Sweeney would’ve been the third Chief Fire Officer he would’ve worked under in Cavan had he not retired in January on health grounds.

He extended a “very warm welcome” to Ms Sweeney and said he hoped she continued the good work of her predecessor, Noel O’Reilly, and that under her management firefighters in Cavan would “get the same training” as full-time firemen and others around the country.

Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF) said he wanted to add to Cllr Brady’s comments and welcome Sinead Sweeney to Cavan and her new role. He referenced how his son was involved in the Kingscourt station pointing out he knew the important and valuable service provided to Cavan by the Fire Service.

Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind) wished Chief Fire officer Sweeney “many years in Cavan”; while Cllr Trevor Smith (FG) said he looked forward to welcoming Ms Sweeney to the new fire station in Ballyjamesduff.

Cathaoirleach of the Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF) rounded off the members’ welcomes when he said: “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”.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Eoin Doyle said: “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.”