Overview

• The Prince and Princess of Wales spent October 14 in Northern Ireland, starting at the £50 million NIFRS Learning and Development College near Cookstown before visiting Mallon Farm and Long Meadow Cider.
• At the fire service college, which opened in May and is NIFRS’s largest-ever investment, they observed drills and attempted a floodwater rescue line throw at a simulator described as one of only two of its kind at a fire service site.
• They rode in a fire engine across the 50-acre site, with newly qualified firefighter Caoimhe McNeice recounting the Princess’s joking request for full speed and sirens, which was declined.
• Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings called it a “proud and unforgettable day” and said the visit showcased how scenario-based facilities are transforming firefighter training.
• The couple later toured a flax farm focused on sustainable linen and a family-run cider producer in County Armagh, met privately with PSNI officers, and marked their first joint visit to Northern Ireland since 2022.