Mayo men receive honours at National Bravery Awards

Two Mayo men were among the recipients as people from across the country who risked their own lives to come to another's aid were honoured at the National Bravery Awards.

Jonathan Monroe and Garda Aiden McTigue were honoured for their bravery at a ceremony in Leinster House, while Donegal man Pat Cannon was also honoured after rescuing a man off the Mayo coast in 1988.

On July 27, 2020, quick thinking and extraordinary courage from Garda Aiden McTigue (Mayo) and Inspector Brendan O’Grady (Galway) saved a man’s life on the River Corrib – one of Ireland’s fastest-flowing and most dangerous rivers.

After receiving a report of a man in distress near O’Brien’s Bridge, both Gardaí immediately rushed from Mill Street Garda Station. As Garda McTigue approached, the man deliberately entered the water and was swept away by the powerful current.

Without hesitation, Garda McTigue jumped in, reaching the man and pulling him towards the bank. Inspector O’Grady arrived with a lifebuoy, and together they held on in treacherous conditions while awaiting emergency services.

In a sudden struggle, all three were pulled back into the river and dragged downstream. Despite the danger, Garda McTigue and Inspector O’Grady refused to let go, calming the man and ultimately bringing him safely back to shore. He was transported to University Hospital Galway for further care.

For their outstanding courage and selfless actions, Garda Aiden McTigue and Inspector Brendan O’Grady are each awarded a Bronze Medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

On Friday, July 15, 2022, Jonathan Monroe was walking near the Eglinton Canal in Galway City when he heard noises and splashing coming from the canal and saw a distressed man deep in the water. The man, who was mostly submerged, was going under, with only his head visible above the water. Without hesitation, Jonathan stripped off his clothing and dived into the canal in an attempt to rescue him.

Jonathan swam out to the man, who was now face down underwater and tried to turn him over to get his face up out of the canal. Although struggling to get the man turned onto his back, Jonathan managed to pull the man into a position where his head was out of the water and then swam with him towards the bank of the canal.

Other passersby had called for the Emergency Services to attend and another man on the canal bank assisted Jonathan to remove the male from the water. When they got him ashore, he was distressed but conscious and was attended to before being taken away to receive further treatment.

For his actions, Jonathan was awarded a Bronze medal and a Certificate of Bravery.

On a cold October night in 1988, the crew of the MV Rosses Morn were fishing some miles off the Mayo coast, near the Stags rocks. They noticed the wind change and increase in speed and decided to head for shelter. As they were hauling in the nets, a bobbin snapped and struck a crew member, Flor Nolan, on the back of the head, knocking him across the boat and into the rough sea.

Despite not being able to swim, the skipper, Pat Cannon, who was steering the boat, realised that his shipmate would be lost if he did not act. Grabbing a rope, he jumped into the dark sea and grabbed hold of Flor. As they were both wearing oilskins and boots, they were being dragged under by the weight and the growing swell.

The other two crew on board hauled the men towards the boat and somehow managed to get Flor back on board. However, they could not get Pat out of the water, and he lost his grip on the rope.

Struggling against the rough seas and weighed down by his boots and boiler suit, Pat managed to wrap the chain of the trawl door around his arm and hold on. The wind and waves pushed him under several times as he was dragged along the stern and the motion of the boat meant it was impossible to pull him out.

Eventually the boat took a roll, and Pat came up long enough that the crew could grab his feet and pull him aboard. He was blue with the cold and some of the crew thought he was dead. The crewman he had rescued, Flor Nolan, noted that Pat Cannon could not swim when he jumped into the sea to save him. In the same statement he wrote that he owes his life to Pat Cannon.

For his actions, Pat Cannon was awarded a Silver medal and a certificate of Bravery.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy TD said: “We don’t all find ourselves standing with someone in the water, or holding onto them on a cliff edge, as some of our recipients have done. But every day we each have a chance to make a difference by listening, supporting, or just being there for someone when they need us.

“It is also a significant day for all those who will see, or hear, or read about these brave deeds and feel better to know there are still good things being done by good people. To all of our award recipients, on behalf of the people of Ireland, let me thank you again for your actions, for your selflessness and for your courage,” she concluded.