Posthumous bravery award for Cork man who gave his life to save stranger

There will be one gold medal, 15 bronze and four silver medals awarded at the National Bravery Awards today

Retired teacher and farmer Cal O’Keeffe was fatally wounded when he pushed a woman out of the path of an oncoming car.

A 90-year-old retired Cork teacher who gave his life pushing someone else out of the path of an oncoming car will be given the highest honour at the National Bravery Awards in Leinster House on Friday.

On the morning of October 18, 2024, at a Fermoy supermarket car park, Callaghan O’Keeffe, the former teacher and farmer known to all as Cal, managed to push the woman out of the direct line of the car which was reversing.

He had noticed the danger and began shouting at the car to stop, as well as trying to alert the woman before pushing her out of the way of the car.

Taking the brunt of the impact, Mr O’Keeffe was fatally wounded and later pronounced dead at the scene, while the woman, who was in her 60s, was seriously injured and needed to be airlifted to hospital. The driver, who was in his 90s, was treated at the scene.

Mr O’Keeffe's family will be posthumously awarded a gold medal on his behalf as well as a memorial certificate of bravery by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy today.

His is the only gold medal. There will also be 15 bronze and four silver medals awarded to recipients from Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kildare, Offaly, Roscommon, Dublin, Donegal, Waterford, Cork and Cavan.

Carla Murphy, aged 11, from Waterford is this year’s youngest recipient, receiving a silver medal for rescuing her mother from a serious assault by an intruder at their home.

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The awards ceremony will be presented by retired RTÉ presenter Joe Duffy.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, the Ceann Comhairle said not everyone would find themselves standing with someone in the water, or holding onto them on a cliff edge, but everyone could make a difference by supporting others.

“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,” Ms Murphy said.

“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.

“What you have done has made the world feel a little less dark, a little less dangerous and gives hope to us all for the road ahead.”