The sight and sound of the air ambulance based at Custume Barracks in Athlone has become very familiar to people across the Shannonside region over recent years, and in fact the service will celebrate it's 10th anniversary this summer.
The air service was begun as a pilot project in June of 2012 following the controversial closure of the accident and emergency unit at Roscommon hospital.
The helicpopter used for the service is based at Custume Barracks in Athlone and is manned by the Irish Air Corp and National Ambulance Service has responded to over 6,000 taskings.
Anne Norris visited Custume Barracks in recent weeks where she spoke to Capt Jason McDermott from the Irish Air Corp, who's one of the pilots with the service, and to Advanced Paramedic Pat Moran from the National Ambulance Service who's been with the service since it's inception.
