Two Donegal men are to receive National Bravery Awards today for their unselfish acts of heroism.

Killybegs fisherman, Pat Cannon, as well as Kealan Dolan will be among 22 from around the country who will be recognised for risking their own lives to aid others in peril.

Kealan (22), from Glebe in Ballyare, was involved in the rescue of a man from a burning house in Manorcunningham last year.

He was driving back from his grandfather’s house when he noticed smoke coming from a neighbouring house. Kealan jumped out of his jeep and tried to enter the house but was beaten back by smoke and flames. He tried again and this time got further into the house calling the homeowner’s name as he tried to find him. 

Eventually Kealan found the man, sitting in a chair surrounded by smoke and appearing to be incapacitated. Despite the thick black smoke and his best efforts, the man refused to leave the house. Kealan made the decision to drag the man from the chair. He then pulled him physically out of the house to safety. As they were leaving the house a flashover took hold and blew out the windows, leaving the house almost completely gutted. 

Gardaí who attended noted that it was thanks to the quick actions of Kealan Dolan, on the day in question, that no fatalities occurred. The occupant of the house was brought by ambulance to hospital to be treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. For his actions, Kealan Dolan will be awarded a Bronze medal and a Certificate of Bravery. 

Mr Cannon, from Killybegs, was involved in the dramatic 1988 rescue of a crewmate from the sea off the Mayo coast.

On a cold October night, the crew of the MV Rosses Morn were fishing near the Stags rocks. 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, he 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. For his actions, Mr Cannon will be awarded a Silver medal and a Certificate of Bravery. 

Two Donegal heroes to receive National Bravery Awards today was last modified: December 4th, 2025 by Staff Writer

Tags: