Mayo native and wife receive Presidential Distinguished Service Award

PRESIDENT Michael D. Higgins has presented a Presidential Distinguished Service Award to Mayo native Ciarán Staunton and his wife Orlaith whose work to highlight the medical condition of sepsis has saved more than 16,000 lives in New York State alone.

The awards are presented to those who have given distinguished service in the fields of peace-building, charitable work, business, education, arts, sport, and beyond.

The award was presented by President Michael D. Higgins at Aras An Uachtarian. The awards ceremony were also attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney.

The award is the highest honour that the Irish state can give.