Five people from the Banner County, who collectively saved 16 lives, will be presented with awards by Irish Water Safety today
Three secondary school students – Eve Copley, Ellen McMahon and Aisling O’Sullivan – made headlines this summer after they helped avert a drowning in the River Fergus in Ennis.
The girls had completed a Junior Cert exam at Rice College in the town on June 12th, and were walking home when they noticed a woman in difficulty in the water along Lifford Road, after she had attempted to retrieve her dog.
The girls rescued the woman by pulling her ashore, using a nearby lifebuoy,
Meanwhile, two other Clare life-savers will also be honoured for service spanning three decades.
Paddy Casey and the late Peter Downes were among the first lifeguards in the county, and together saved 15 lives in a number of incidents in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, particularly in the Spanish Point area.
The five Clare people will be among 26 who’ll be presented with Awards at by Minister of State John Perry at Dublin City Hall later today.
