Ceann Comhairle presents National Bravery Award

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