An Cosantóir

10 | National Bravery A t a ceremony in Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin, on 1st November 2013 Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett TD presented 21 people with awards for outstanding acts of bravery going back as far as 1987. Three of these awards were presented to members of the Defence Forces. The honours are awarded by Comhairle na Mire Gaile (Deeds of Bravery Council), which was established in 1947 to provide for suitable state recognition of deeds of bravery. The Council, which is chaired by the Ceann Comhairle, includes the cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the Lord Mayor of Cork, the Garda Commissioner, the president of the Association of City & County Councils and the chairman of the Irish Red Cross. The Council awards gold, silver and bronze medals and certificates of recognition. At the ceremony, three silver medals, eight bronze medals and 21 certificates were awarded. In July 1999, Elizabeth Barrett, who is now a lieutenant in the Naval Service, was a scout leader with the Skerries Unit. When camping along with other scouting units in Lough Key, near Boyle, Co Roscommon, she rescued another scout leader from drowning by swimming out into the lake and towing the victim back to safety. For her efforts on that day, Elizabeth Barrett was awarded a certificate of bravery. On 25th February 2011 A/Sea John O'Flynn (Naval Service Reserve, Cork, who had just returned from two weeks at sea on LÉ Eithne, jumped into the River Lee in Cork to save a man who was struggling in the water. A/Sea O'Flynn received a bronze medal and a certificate of bravery for his exploits. In August 2011, Cillian Mahon and Pte Ryane Twomey (3 Inf Bn, Kilkenny) were celebrating their Leaving Certificate results when they noticed a fire in an apartment block in the Patrick St area of Fermoy, Co Cork. They managed to kick open the main entrance door to the apartment complex and enter the building. The two teenagers managed to locate and drag one man outside to safety from the smoke-filled building. On learning that another person was still inside Cillian alerted the emergency services while Ryane returned into the building, using his t-shirt to shield his mouth and nose, and brought the second person to safety. Both young men received silver medals and certificates of bravery for their outstanding acts. An Cosantóir Dec 2013/Jan 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie

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