Kildare man gets bravery award for rescuing woman from sea
A Kildare man Liam Halpin received a national bravery award for the rescue of a woman from the sea in Co. Clare.
On August 3rd 2020, at approximately 4:30 pm, a twenty year old woman and her thirteen year old foster brother were on the beach at Doughmore Bay in Doonbeg.
They were playing in the water and jumping the waves. Shortly afterwards the young boy ran up the beach screaming that the young lady had been suddenly swept out to sea due to the undercurrent and strong waves.
He pointed to where she was, but no one could see her as she was being swept out further and further to sea.
Nobody could go in as no one had any kind of buoyancy aid. After about 15 minutes Liam Halpin jumped in with a small red body board, despite the pleadings of his family not to go in.
He managed to get to the young woman just as she felt she could no longer fight on. Around 15 minutes later he had her back on shore. The Coastguard attended and she was then airlifted to Limerick University Hospital.
For his efforts Liam Halpin was awarded a Silver Medal.
Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, today presented 16 National Bravery Awards to individuals from Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow who risked their own lives to aid others in peril.
Today’s ceremony at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, brought recipients together to receive ten Bronze Medals, another five recipients received Silver Medals and one received Gold for Bravery.
The annual honours are awarded by Comhairle na Míre Gaile – the Deeds of Bravery Council – which was founded 75 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.
The Ceann Comhairle said: “Today, we present awards, to brave recipients from every corner of the country. Letters of commendation have also issued to nine people for deeds and actions which saved lives and protected others from harm.
Through the 75 years of the Bravery awards we have heard of hundreds of lives that have been saved. We cannot know what lives were lived or what generations have grown as a result of these deeds, but we do know that every deed made a difference. Every act of bravery matters to the people who were saved and sometimes, even more so, to those who are left behind after an unsuccessful rescue attempt.
On behalf of the people of Ireland let me thank the brave recipients for their actions, for their selflessness, for their courage and for showing us that we can all make a difference on this island we share and in this world we walk together.”
For more information on the National Bravery Awards: Bravery Awards
Recipients from Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow were among those honoured at the ceremony in Farmleigh House, for acts of bravery and courage.
Citation – Intervening in an assault on a Garda by John Colfer (Dublin)
On the evening of 24 September 2018, John Colfer was cycling home from work and encountered a gang of youths attacking a member of An Garda Síochána. The Garda had been hit in the face, his nose was broken and he had been knocked to the ground. John Colfer intervened and placed himself between the assailants and the injured Garda. Despite ongoing threats and being outnumbered by 5 to 1, John stood his ground and protected the Garda from further attack. John stayed at the scene until more Gardaí arrived on the scene to deal with the gang.
For his efforts, John Colfer (Dublin) is awarded a bronze medal.
Citation - Rescue of a man from the River Liffey at Eden Quay by Garda Colin Kyne-Delaney (Dublin) and Garda James Keegan (Dublin)
On the afternoon of Saturday, 14 March 2020, a man was seen entering the River Liffey. Garda James Keegan, Garda Colin Kyne-Delaney from Dublin and Mr. Lee Conlon swiftly entered the river to try to save the man. An ambulance was waiting when they brought him to street level and resuscitation efforts began. As well as the obvious risk to their lives, including the risk of struggling in cold water and possible drowning, there was also the risk of disease such as Weil’s disease which highlights the great risk that these Gardai and Mr Conlon took in order to conduct this rescue.
For their efforts Garda James Keegan, Garda Colin Kyne-Delaney (Dublin) and Mr Lee Conlon are each awarded a bronze medal.
Citation - Rescue of a woman from the River Camac by Garda Ciaran Murray (Dublin)
On the morning of 17 June 2020 a woman was walking her dog on a harness lead near the Camac river. The dog fell into the water near a culvert running under the M50 motorway and pulled its owner in too. There had been very heavy rain in the previous days and the water level was high. The current was so strong that the lady and her dog were swept into the tunnel. When Gardaí arrived the woman was too far down the tunnel to be seen but could be heard crying for help. The Gardaí took ropes from their car and entered the water. The woman was located about 50 feet into the tunnel which was too far for their rope. Gardaí Murray and Crawford continued through the water and managed to get to the woman who had held onto her dog which was struggling causing her to sink under the water. Garda Crawford took hold of the dog and both he and Garda Murray assisted the lady out of the tunnel and eventually brought her back through the waters. Despite being barely able to speak from cold and shock, the lady made a full recovery.
For their efforts Garda Brendan Crawford and Garda Ciaran Murray are each awarded a Bronze Medal.
Citation - Rescue of 3 women from the sea in Greystones, Co. Wicklow by Stephen Ryan
On 23 April 2022, at the North Cove, Greystones, Co Wicklow, three females entered the sea at a point known locally as “The North Cove”, a sheltered area of the beach behind a line of rock armour. There was a strong easterly wind blowing ashore, causing heavy seas. A short time later a number of calls were made requesting emergency services.
Stephen Ryan, having already made it back to the beach, took his surf board and re-entered the water himself, swimming out to the females beyond the safety of the North Cove. He then held the three females on his surf board whilst attempting to provide CPR to one of them as best he could whilst in the water. The stiff easterly wind and rising tide made his task more difficult and the group spent approximately 40 minutes in the water, before being brought ashore. Sadly, despite Stephen’s best efforts one of the women brought ashore was pronounced dead. However local Gardaí noted that without his help there would have been more fatalities.
For his efforts Stephen Ryan is awarded a Silver Medal.