Cork man who saved woman from River Lee receives bravery award 

A CORK man who jumped into the River Lee to rescue a woman was among the recipients of a National Bravery Award.

Also included among the recipients of the awards, presented by Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl at Dublin’s Farmleigh House yesterday, was a nine-year-old boy who escaped from an overturned car to seek help for his mother and sister who were still trapped in the vehicle — which had skidded on black ice as the family were travelling to a school in Boherbue, where the mother taught.

On the night of November 6, 2020, Kevin O’Sullivan, from Clonfert, near Newmarket, saw a woman as she was being swept along in the current, and was in clear danger of drowning.

According to the citation, Kevin was on Sullivan’s Quay at the time and saw what was happening.

“He climbed down to the river and began swimming towards the woman,” the citation read.

“The woman was screaming for help, fighting the current, and was about to go underwater, before Kevin reached her.

“Kevin’s friends threw life buoys into the river and, while keeping the woman above water, Kevin managed to drag her to a buoy.

“From there, he and the woman were reeled to the nearest ladder at Sullivan’s Quay — where gardaí and members of the fire brigade were waiting.

Recognition for brave 9-year-old 

Among the recipients of a Certificate for Bravery was Marc O’Connor, who was aged nine when he, his mother, and his sister were involved in a car accident.

Their vehicle had skidded on black ice at Keelnahulla Cross on December 14, 2022. His mother, a teacher at Boherbue Comprehensive School, was badly injured in the accident and she, Marc, and his sister Sive were trapped in the overturned car, which had landed in a drain below the road.

“Marc was the only one able to free himself, and he climbed out a broken window with his mother’s phone,” the citation read.

“She sent him to get help, as the car was not visible from the road.

“Even though he had a pain in his back, Marc set off and walked away from the car across the field.

“A passing school bus driver saw him and stopped.”

A celebration of the 'noblest impulse'

As he presented the awards yesterday, An Ceann Comhairle described the various acts of bravery as a celebration of “noblest impulse in a human being, the impulse to risk our lives to save someone else’s”.

“But just as importantly, what these awards also do is mark the importance of the lives that were saved and also those that were lost,” said Mr Ó Fearghaíl.

“I say this because, in several instances, we are making awards where, in spite of brave actions and valiant efforts, lives were tragically lost.

“Those involved in these attempts know how hard they struggled, the families of those lost appreciate their efforts as do we, the Irish nation.”