Safety & Emergency Services Shortlist 2024

Tommie Doyle was one of the founding members of the Coast Guard unit in Westport 22 years ago. He identified a need for a coastal search and rescue service in the Westport/Clew Bay area. Along with Brian Moran, Tommie set about establishing the unit and has been to the forefront of it ever since. Tommie has mentored and developed new volunteers over the decades and his commitment, professionalism and drive has ensured that the unit has not just survived but has flourished. He has assisted in saving many lives and has brought closure to families and communities through the recovery of the deceased over the years. Tommie is at the station daily and maintains the unit’s vehicles so that they are ready at a moment’s notice. He is a role model for the other volunteers with his professionalism and compassion.  

“Tommie is particularly caring and empathetic to families who lose a loved one and he provides a competent, caring and supportive presence to loved ones at what can be traumatic scenes. Tommie is the type of coast guard that we all aspire to emulate. He sets the bar high” writes his nominator. 

David O’Malley is dedicated to safeguarding the health and well-being of Edenderry’s residents. Over the past 18 months, he has secured funding and overseen the installation of 28 publicly available Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the town and surrounding areas, which previously had none. He has driven the doubling of the responder area covered for emergency response, bringing in the wider community. David is known for his quick response to cardiac emergencies, often opting to cycle to bypass traffic and ensure swift assistance.

In addition to emergency response, he has organised CPR training for young people, schools, sports clubs and community groups. Recently he assisted in training a dozen Gardaí in Edenderry as cardiac responders, further strengthening the chain of survival in the area. David has personally attended 150+ emergency calls and has directly contributed to the survival of at least three individuals, including a young mother, allowing them to return home safely to their families. He also collaborated with the Dillon Quirke Foundation to arrange cardiac screenings for 350+ young people in the community, leading to cardiology referrals that may well have saved lives or medical emergencies in the future.

“There are no words that can do this man justice. I know he is involved with other organisations and is equally dedicated to them, while also being a wonderful husband and father,” writes his nominator.

Peter and Pauline have been active members of the Eslin Community First Responders group ever since its founding. They respond to calls from the National Ambulance Service, so that they can reach a potential life threatening emergency in the first vital minutes before the ambulance arrives, any time day or night. They are dispatched for chest pain, breathing difficulty, choking, stroke and cardiac incident related calls within a three mile radius. They attend trainings and conferences to keep up to date with the latest medical advice and protocols to make sure that the people in Eslin have the best chance of survival in an emergency. The circumstances of emergencies are often unpleasant, and Peter and Pauline have been known to wade through a pond in the dark of night in an effort to help someone.  

“The whole group looks up to Peter and Pauline as quiet leaders in the group” writes their nominator, “From the very first call, they set a phenomenal example for responding at all hours of the day or night, and in a proactive and meaningful way. They have attended to many very distressed families and always provided real support, physically and morally.”