18 Nov 2022, 14:30
The Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, today (Friday November 18th) presented 16 National Bravery Awards to individuals 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.”
The recipients are:
John Colfer – Bronze Medal
Garda Kieran Donovan – Bronze Medal
Garda James Keegan – Bronze Medal
Garda Colin Kyne-Delaney – Bronze Medal
Lee Conlon – Bronze Medal
Michael Nallon – Bronze Medal
Micheál Bourke – Bronze Medal
Katie Butler Haughney – Bronze Medal
Garda Brendan Crawford – Bronze Medal
Garda Ciaran Murray – Bronze Medal
Michael Downes – Silver Medal
Liam Halpin – Silver Medal
Miley Doran – Silver Medal
Rosaleen Feeney – Silver Medal
Stephen Ryan – Silver Medal
Kevin Barr – Gold Medal
ENDS
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