The Irish Coast Guard has been honoured at the People of the Year awards "in recognition of the bravery of the men and women who carry out their duties despite considerable risk to their lives".

Ireland’s People of the Year awards is 40 this year and, to celebrate, past winners Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Mark Pollock, Christina Noble, and Jane McKenna were joined yesterday by awards ambassador and actress Aoibhín Garrihy in Dublin to open the nominations campaign for the 2014 awards.