Irish Green Goddess 30/07/10

23

There were thirty-seven (37) AFS Green Goddesses in all. There were four batches of new vehicles bought during the 1960s (10,5,5,and 5) making a total of 25. After the British AFS was shut down in 1968, most of their Goddesses were sold off. The Irish government bought ten for the AFS in 1971. Much more recently, the AFS bought two more in 2007.

All the AFS Goddesses were on the 4X4 chassis, model RLHZ. However, the 25 bought new in the 1960s had a different radiator grille to the later ("secondhand")purchases, which had been built for the British government in 1956. Bedford revised the RL range in 1957, and gave it a bit of a facelift - chrome surround and larger name badge on the radiator grille.Note that the AFS had a habit of swapping the grilles around so some YI reg.appliances ended up with chrome grilles in later life!

Details of the fleet and original assignments are as follows:

Ten vehicles were acquired in the financial year 1961-62 (year ending 31.3.1962). They were issued to AFS units by the Minister for Defence in a special ceremony at Ratra House in June 1962. Reg. numbers were AZC 754 to AZC 763. They were assigned to Dublin Corporation (two vehicles) and one each to Cork Corporation, Dun Laoghaire Corporation, and the County Councils of Galway, Kildare, Laoighis, Louth, Wexford and Wicklow.

Five vehicles acquired early in 1963 and assigned in fin. year 1963 - 64. Reg. numbers JZD 514 to JZD 518. These were assigned to the County Councils of Sligo, Cork, Westmeath, and Donegal, and to Limerick Corporation.

Five vehicles acquired in 1964 and assigned in fin.year 1964 -65. Reg. numbers EZE 224 to EZE 228. These five were assigned to the County Councils of Clare, Kilkenny, Tipperary (SR),and Louth, and to Waterford Corporation.

Five vehicles acquired in 1965 and assigned in fin.year 1965 - 66 to Cork Corporation and to the County Councils of Longford, Monaghan, Offaly and Waterford.
Reg. numbers were NZH 2 to NZH 6.



A further ten Goddesses were issued to the AFS in 1971. These were ex - British AFS vehicles and had UK number plates on arrival in Dublin, but were re - registered 4890 YI to 4899 YI and repainted in the Irish AFS livery. I have seen no official records about where they were assigned.


Two further 4X4 Goddesses, still with original UK reg.numbers but freshly painted in the green Irish AFS livery, at the time of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the CD in 2007. Reg. numbers PGW 144 and RXP 754. They were bought for ceremonial purposes.

Thanks to Liam O'Luanaigh for the above information on the Green Goddesses that were with Irish Civil Defence.

Contributors To The Green Goddess Page.

Liam O' Luanaigh , Willie Doyle , Martin Thompson , Chris Prendergast , Anne Nolan , Brian Carroll , Gearoid Blake , Mike Carroll , Dave Smyth , Eamon Doyle , John Curran ,

AZC's

AZC 754..............Dublin Corporation
AZC 755..............Dublin Corporation
AZC 756................Cork Corporation
AZC 757.......................Co.Wicklow
AZC 758........................................
AZC 759.......................................
AZC 760......................County Laois
AZC 761....................County Kildare
AZC 762........................................
AZC 763.......................................

JZD's

JZD 514..........................................
JZD 515..........................................
JZD 516..........................................
JZD 517..............Limerick Corporation
JZD 518..........................Co. Donegal

EZE's

EZE 224.......................County Louth
EZE 225...........Waterford Corporation
EZE 226...................County Kilkenny
EZE227..........Tipperary South Riding.
EZE 228.......................County Clare

NZH's

NZH 2...............................Co.Offaly
NZH 3.........................Co.Warerford
NZH 5....................Cork Corporation
NZH 4.......................Co. Monaghan
NZH 6.....................Co.Longford.

YI's

4890 YI.............................Co.Leitrim
4891 YI.............................Co. Kerry
4892 YI..........................................
4893 YI..........................................
4894 YI..........................................
4895 YI..........................................
4896 YI............Waterford Corporation
4897 YI..........................................
4898YI............................. .Co.Galway.
4899 YI.................Dublin Corporation

AZC 760 ,Co. Laois.

AZC 761 Kildare Civil Defence at Ratra House 1977.

JZD 518 Co.Donegal Civil Defence. (colour change from green )

JZD 517 on Parade in Limerick City.

JZD 517 Limerick City.

EZE 226 County Kilkenny Civil Defence.

EZE 228 at Ennis Co.Clare.

NZH 3 ( Diana )Waterford County TOP photo taken at Dublin Bay Rally 1990. BOTTOM photo taken at Dungarvan .Co. Waterford. while in service.

NZH 5 Cork City.

The records show that NZH 6 was issued to Co. Longford in 1966 above photo of NZH 6 ( Morrigu ) was taken in 1969 outside Cork City Fire Station. photo copyright John Curran.

4891 YI Co Kerry

Waterford City.

County Carlow's Green Goddess ---- YI . If you look in the door way behind the pump operator , on the branch in yellow leggings is Martin Thompson. Photo taken at Annsboro Maltings ,Rathangan 1977.

Bray Co. Wicklow.

Cork City.

Ceremonial Green Goddesses .

AZC 754 at Military Parade Easter 1969.

Co. Wicklow's JZD515 recently allocated from another County . Regional Competitions Newbridge 1985.

4383 YI at National Competions Dundalk 1986.

NZH 3 ( Diana ) Dungarvan , Waterford County TOP photo taken at National competions Dundalk 1986. Above 4 photo's copyright John Curran.