Ireland's bravest - 23 honored for risking their lives to aid others in peril

23 National Bravery Awards were presented to individuals from across Ireland who risked their own lives to aid others in peril during a ceremony at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park in Dublin on Friday, November 8.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, the Ceann Comhairle, presented the ceremony which brought recipients together to receive seven certificates, eleven Bronze Medals, and four Silver Medals.

15-year-old David Akar received a Gold medal award for Bravery and is one of the youngest recipients of this award since the establishment of the National Bravery Awards in 1947.

Speaking to guests at the ceremony, the Ceann Comhairle said: "This November day in Farmleigh is a day when we celebrate people who have made the world feel a little less dark, a little less dangerous, and whose actions speak to the very best and noblest of impulses.

"This singular day marks moments where self-preservation was cast aside by our brave recipients as they risked their lives to help someone else.

"These moments matter, because in many cases, lives were saved that would have been lost.

"They matter because even when people were lost, in some of the awful tragedies we remember today, those people were not alone. They would have known and their families know, that someone was with them, someone was bravely and desperately trying to save them, to bring them home." 

The annual honours are awarded by Comhairle na Míre Gaile – the Deeds of Bravery Council – which was founded 77 years ago in 1947 to enable State recognition of exceptional Acts of Bravery.

The Council is chaired by the Ceann Comhairle and includes the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, the Lord Mayors of Dublin and Cork, the Garda Commissioner, the President of the Association of City & County Councils, and the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross.

National Bravery Award winners 2024

Mary Noonan - Rescue of a child from the sea at Kilkee, Co Clare 

Just after noon on Wednesday, 24 July 2019, Mary Noonan was swimming off the steps at Kilkee, Co Clare when she heard shouting and saw a young boy going under the water. The boy’s father had been calling out for help and was wading out towards his son. When the father was chest deep, he too got into difficulty and called for someone to save his son. Mary swam over to the young boy who was panicking and going under the water. By the time she got to him he was face down in the water, so she pulled him back towards the shore and began desperately trying to get him to breathe. The boy was coughing up a lot of water, but Mary got him back to his father who had regained his footing and was out of danger. Although the young boy was taken to hospital due to the risk of secondary drowning, he recovered well and the family thanked Mary, who they called ‘their guardian angel’ for her help. 

For her actions, Mary Noonan is awarded a Certificate of Bravery.

Garda Noel Power (RIP) and Sergeant Cyril Meehan - Intervening to disarm a man brandishing a knife at Waterford Garda Station

On the evening of 19 February 2001, a man entered the public office of Waterford Garda station brandishing a knife. The man was aggressive and self-harming and Gardaí were concerned for his safety and the safety of any members of the public who might enter the office. Garda Noel and Sergeant Cyril Meehan tackled the man, who made several attempts to stab them. After a struggle, the Gardaí managed to overpower the man and pinned him back against a wall, disarming him safely before he could hurt himself any further or endanger any members of the public.

For their actions, Garda Noel Power (RIP) and Sergeant Cyril Meehan are each awarded a Certificate of Bravery.

Garda Seamus Ronan, Garda Liam Fitzpatrick, Garda Conor Lucey, and Sergeant Cyril Meehan - Intervening to prevent a man from setting fire to himself at the Quays, Waterford

In the early hours of 7 June 2002, Gardaí responded to reports of a distressed man on the Quay in Waterford. The man had doused himself in petrol and was threatening to set himself on fire. After attempts to calm the man had been unsuccessful, the man tried to strike his cigarette lighter and the Garda members decided they had to intervene. Despite the significant risk they faced, they rushed him as a group to prevent him from serious harm. He made several attempts to ignite the lighter but the Gardaí, now soaked in petrol themselves, struggled with him and managed to grab the lighter from his hand before subduing him safely. The man was later taken to hospital where he was treated and placed under observation.

For their actions, Garda Seamus Ronan, Garda Liam Fitzpatrick, Garda Conor Lucey, and Sergeant Cyril Meehan are each awarded a Certificate of Bravery.

Aoife McGivney - Rescue of a bus driver who had fallen unconscious at the wheel

Early on the morning of 4 March 2019, Aoife McGivney was on the 16 bus on her way to work. As the bus was travelling along Westmoreland Street it began to veer from side to side and went through a red light hitting a cyclist. Hearing the commotion at the front of the bus, Aoife got up from her seat and went forward to see what was happening. As the bus continued towards O’Connell Bridge, Aoife approached the driver’s cabin and saw that he was unconscious and that the bus was out of control. Realising the danger to pedestrians and traffic, as well as her fellow passengers, Aoife leaned into the driver’s cab. Despite being off balance and in the most precarious and dangerous position if the out-of-control bus were to crash, she began shaking the bus driver to try to wake him and somehow got his foot off the accelerating pedal which made the bus cut out. She steered the bus to a stop, which avoided a catastrophic collision. With the assistance of others, Aoife managed to get the driver off the bus and administered CPR to him while waiting for emergency services. The bus driver later made a full recovery.

For her actions, Aoife McGivney is awarded a Bronze medal and Certificate of Bravery.

Kauri Maher - Rescue of a man from the Royal Canal, Dublin 7 

Around 4pm on Monday, 6th July 2020 a man entered the canal at Royal Canal way in Dublin 7. The man was shouting and appeared to be distressed and disoriented. Kauri Maher, who lived nearby was alerted to the man’s plight by passers-by. Despite the danger, Kauri was determined that the man would not die on his watch, so he grabbed a rope and jumped into the canal, which was about 8 or 9 foot deep at the time. His housemate Agatha Tocchio, held the other end of the rope on the towpath as Kauri swam across to the distressed man. After grabbing the man, and keeping him above water, Kauri swam back to the bank with him, while Agatha and some onlookers pulled on the rope. When they reached the bank, they managed to get the man out of the canal and put him in the recovery position. Emergency services arrived on the scene and the man was taken to hospital and discharged a short time later.

For his actions, Kauri Maher is awarded a Bronze Medal and Certificate of Bravery.

Daniel Dwan - Rescue of a man from the sea at Stage Cove, Co Waterford

On Sunday 9 July 2023, a strong swell had swept a swimmer out to sea near Stage Cove in Co. Waterford. Local fisherman Daniel Dwan was on the shore when he saw the man struggling in the water. Knowing the danger in the cove he grabbed a kayak from a neighbouring garden and began to paddle out into the sea. Due to the strong current and growing swells it took Daniel some time to reach the man and when he did, onlookers reported that the force of the sea meant he was struggling to return to shore. Eventually he got closer to the shore with the man and a lifeguard paddled out to help them both back to safety. In the course of the rescue, Daniel suffered a gash to his head and both he and the man were later treated by paramedics at Waterford Airport, but both made a full recovery.

For his actions, Daniel Dwan is awarded a Bronze Medal and Certificate of Bravery.

Garda Joseph O'Reilly and Garda Denis Cronin - Rescue of a man from a burning building in Knocknaheeney, Cork

Garda Joseph O’Reilly and Garda Denis Cronin were on patrol in the early hours of 14 April 2021 when they noticed a fire in the derelict part of a semi-detached house. They alerted the fire brigade and began evacuating nearby residents. It became apparent that the adjoining part of the house was occupied by an elderly man and with the roof ablaze and the fire spreading, the two Gardaí made the decision to try and force the door. Together they forced the door and gained entry to the building, which was now filling with smoke. They managed to get to the bedroom of the elderly man who had woken with the sound of the door breaking. As the fire raged in the adjoining property it spread across the roof and was burning the shared wall between the two buildings, which was in danger of collapse. Despite the smoke and heat from the fire, Joseph and Denis safely evacuated the man from the building and took him to safety, before several units of the fire-brigade arrived to bring the blaze under control.

For their actions, Garda Joseph O’Reilly and Garda Denis Cronin are each awarded a Bronze Medal and Certificate of Bravery.

Walter Murphy, Oleg Coronciuc, and Veaceslav Coronciuc - Rescue of two men from an out-of-control car and prevention of Road Traffic Collision on the South Ring Road, Cork

Around 11.30 on the morning of Wednesday, 3rd of January 2024, the driver of a car on the busy South Ring Road in Cork, suffered a cardiac arrest. With the man unconscious in his seat, the car began to swerve along the road. His passenger Walter Murphy attempted to take control of the car, but the drivers foot remained on the accelerator and the car kept going.

Several cars passed including a car driven by brothers Oleg and Veaceslav Coronciuc who noticed the driver slumped over the wheel and decided to intervene. Recognising the danger, they pulled their car in front of the out-of-control vehicle and began to slow down, allowing the other car to bump into their own as they slowly braked. In the out-of-control car Walter Murphy attempted to steer to prevent pushing the Coronciuc brothers’ car off the edge of the road or into more traffic. With a large volume of traffic passing the risk of a catastrophic collision was prevented as together the three men forced the car to slow and finally come to a stop. Tragically, the driver was later pronounced dead, but it was noted by Gardaí that the actions of the three men undoubtedly prevented a serious road traffic incident on this busy road.

For their actions, Walter Murphy, Oleg Coronciuc and Veaceslav Coronciuc are each awarded a Bronze Medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

Aaron O'Callaghan and Carlos Amaya - Rescue of three people from the sea at Garretstown Beach, Kinsale, Co Cork

When a riptide took hold of a father and his two teenage children on 17 March 2024, Aaron O’Callaghan and Carlos Amaya came to their rescue. Aaron had been surfing at Garretstown Beach on a day with good swells and big waves when he heard screaming from the edge of the beach. Out in the water, caught in a severe riptide were a man and his two children, barely keeping afloat. As Aaron paddled towards them Carlos had just finished giving a surf lesson but heard the shouting and plunged into the water with his board. When Aaron got through the current, he managed to get hold of the group and keep them afloat with his board. As they were tired and cold they were struggling desperately by the time Carlos got to the scene. Aaron then took the father on his surfboard and Carolos took the children on his. Both Carlos and Aaron then swam alongside, pushing the family safely to shore through the rough seas. Reporting Gardaí noted that if the two men had not reacted the way they did, there could have been an unthinkable tragedy.

For their actions, Aaron O’Callaghan and Carlos Amaya are each awarded a Bronze Medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

Mark Kelly and Pat Weymes - Rescue of a child from a burning house, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

On Friday 5 November 2021, Mark Kelly and Pat Weymes were fitting doors in a house in a large housing estate in Mullingar. On taking parts and fittings from their van they noticed smoke coming from a house. On learning there was a small child trapped in the house, Mark Kelly covered his head with his jacket and tried repeatedly to get in through the front door but was beaten back by the smoke and intense heat. The house was now full of smoke and flames and when the two men learned the toddler was in an upstairs room they decided to reverse their van up against the building. They climbed up on the van roof and despite the risk of the window blowing out, Mark smashed in the glass and climbed into the room. The two men handed the toddler over to waiting neighbours. Fire officers, who arrived on the scene within minutes, shook the hands of both men in appreciation of their efforts, recognising the child would have died if it were not for their actions.

For their actions, Mark Kelly is awarded a Silver Medal and a Certificate of Bravery and Pat Weymes is awarded a Bronze Medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

Criodán Ó Murchú - Rescue of a man from the River Corrib in Galway City

Criodán Ó Murchú had just gotten off a bus in Galway on the evening of Friday 30 July 2021 and was walking by the River Corrib when he saw a man in the water. The current had taken hold of the man and he was being swept at speed down the river towards Wolfe Tone Bridge and the Claddagh basin. Criodán called the emergency services and after being warned not to go in the water he followed the man from the bank. Despite onlookers trying to throw life-rings towards the man, it became clear that he was going to go under the bridge and into the sea and Criodán felt he had to act. He went into the water near Wolfe Tone Bridge and swam out to intercept the man. He grabbed the man and struggled with the current until an onlooker flung him a lifebuoy. Holding the lifebuoy with one hand he held onto the man and began to make for the shore. With the weight of the man and the speed of the current, the rope of the lifebuoy dug into Criodán as he struggled to keep them afloat. As Criodán tried to lift the man’s head above water it appeared that the drowning man came round and began to pull at him. After struggling with the fast-flowing water and the man, who was clearly distressed, Criodán finally managed to bring him to the rocks at the edge of the river and restrained him there until emergency services could reach them.

For his actions, Criodán Ó Murchú is awarded a Silver Medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

Garda Sarah Lynam - Rescue of a man from the River Liffey, Dublin

On the afternoon of Friday, 5 August 2022, Garda Sarah Lynam responded to reports of a man in a distressed state near the River Liffey at Bachelors Walk. On arrival at the scene the man was in the deep water under the boardwalk. Garda Lynam jumped in and swam to the man who was foaming at the mouth and unconscious. Despite struggling with the weight of the man she managed to turn him face up to assist his breathing and began to try pulling him towards the wall. As the man was a dead weight she ducked under water and began pushing him towards the steep wall. A colleague then threw her a rope which she wrapped around her wrist and both she and the man were gradually pulled towards safety. When they got to the quayside Garda Lynam performed CPR on the man who was then taken to hospital. Despite reporting for duty the next day, Sarah was later treated for a serious infection as a result of the amount of water she ingested while performing the rescue.

For her actions, Garda Sarah Lynam is awarded a Silver Medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

Thomas Shaw Hamilton - Rescue of two boys from the sea at Clonea Strand, Co Waterford

On 7 June 2023, Thomas Shaw Hamilton was near the shore at Clonea Strand with his mother, Natatlie and sister Anna, when he saw in the distance two boys in trouble in the water. The boys were caught in a strong rip current and were being pulled further out to sea. Thomas entered the water and swam out to the boys who were a good distance from the shore.

Swimming against the current and high waves it took Thomas nearly 10 minutes to reach the boys and he struggled to get hold of them as the rip current was so strong. As his mother and sister lost sight of him in the waves they called the coastguard and directed the RNLI to the scene.

Thomas was wearing a life jacket at the time, which he took off and got the boys to hold onto as he slowly dragged them out of the rip current. Eventually he was able to pull the boys back to the beach where his mother and sister helped people to try and get them warmed up as the coastguard helicopter came in to land. The two boys were then brought to University Hospital Waterford. After receiving medical treatment as a precaution, they were discharged shortly afterwards.

For his actions, Thomas Shaw Hamilton is awarded a Silver Medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

David Akar - The attempted rescue of a young boy from the sea at Passage West, Co Cork.

On the 24 August 2023 several young friends were swimming at the mooring pontoons at Mariners Quay in Passage West. However, some of the group got caught in a very strong current. One of the young boys, David Akar, attempted to help his friends and managed to push one boy back to the safety of the pontoons before trying to assist another friend who was struggling badly. Despite the strength of the current, David swam back to his other friend and tried to drag, push and pull him back to safety, but as the other young boy grew tired and began to panic, they both went under, and David lost his grip.

Although David had done some lifeguard training, he was just shy of his 14th birthday and was unable to pull his friend against the strong current. Somehow, he managed to get hold of him again and began to pull him towards a small boat, but once again the current took hold and David lost his grip on his friend. David swam to the boat and climbed in, crying out to his other friends to get help. When David couldn’t see his friend in the water, he dived under repeatedly trying to locate him, but tragically he was unable to do so. Despite David’s tireless efforts, the young boy, also aged just 14, lost his life. 

For his actions, David Akar is awarded a Gold Medal and a Certificate of Bravery.