The Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, has presented National Bravery Awards to 25 people, including to the crew of Waterford-based Rescue 117.
There were awards too for people across Counties Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Offaly, Sligo and Tipperary from the United States of America.
In all 17 acts of bravery were honoured.
The Bravery awards were set up in 1947 to recognise those who risked their lives to save others and are administered by Comhairle na Míre Gaile – the Deeds of Bravery Council – which is chaired by the Ceann Comhairle.
Citation for Rescue 117 Crew
Sarah Courtney, Ronan Flanagan, Adrian O’Hara, (all Waterford) and Aaron Hyland (Galway) received a citation for an incident that occured in March 2021. The Citation read:
"70 nautical miles west of Bantry Bay with high winds and a very heavy swell, a fishing vessel under tow by the Irish Naval Service vessel LE George Bernard Shaw lost power and was in grave danger of sinking.
In fading light and worsening conditions Rescue 117 successfully evacuated the crew of seven from the vessel in force 9 gales and 10-12 meters seas.
Without doubt the lives of the 7 crew on board the fishing vessel were saved due to the collective bravery and physical efforts of crew of Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117
In particular winchman, Ms Courtney deserves special credit. On this occasion her individual bravery and physical effort in such arduous conditions showed her to be an individual of immense capability and significant courage
For their actions Sarah Courtney (Winchman), Ronan Flanagan (Pilot), Aaron Hyland (Pilot) and Adrian O’Hara (Winch Operator) are awarded Certificates of Bravery and for her actions Sarah Courtney is also awarded a Silver Medal."
Sarah Courtney, Photo Credit: The Irish Examiner
Other bravery awards:
Demitrios Paraskevakis pulled a bus driver from under water after his coach cab was partially submerged in the River Liffey following a road collision in Dublin city centre.
Gerard Tyrrell saved two girls on an inflatable toy that had blown out to sea at Malahide.
Garda Keenan McGavisk helped rescue a man from drowning in the fast-flowing River Dee;
Walter Butler, Declan Butler, Eoghan Butler and Alexander Hugh Thomson, who were visiting from Virginia in United States, saved a young girl from drowning after the inflatable toy she was on was blown almost a mile out to sea off Portmarnock Beach.
What the Ceann Comhairle said:
The deeds we honour here are exceptional acts of bravery. They mark the moments where people saved the lives of others through their actions, risking their own lives doing so. What these awards celebrate is the noblest impulse within a human being, to risk their life in order to save another. We honour people who leaped into stormy seas, who braved swollen rivers, climbed down cliffs, assisted at road traffic collisions and performed other remarkable deeds. Through their actions there are people alive today, who would undoubtedly have died.
