New podcast revisits 1997 dramatic Mayo sea-cave rescue

The dramatic rescue of a local family from Mayo’s Horse Island sea caves in 1997 earned Garda Ciarán Doyle of the Garda Sub Aqua Unit the Gold Scott Medal for Bravery.

Now, almost 30 years later, he has given a rare first-hand account of the operation in an in-depth interview for The Póilíní Podcast, revisiting an extraordinary night which also saw the loss of two lives.

Garda Ciarán Doyle was among those involved in the operation at Belderrig, on the north Mayo coast when a Bank Holiday pleasure trip turned to terror and tragedy as a sudden storm hit.

In the podcast interview, he revisits the events in vivid detail, from the moment he was woken by the call, to the surface swim through unprecedented sea conditions which brought the Murphy family to safety.

“We had never faced anything like this before,” Doyle says in the episode, describing the sound of the waves hitting the cave system as “like a constant train crash."

In rare personal insights, Ciarán reflects on the power of community that day and the lasting impact of the events on his life.

Presented by garda historian and former serving garda, Dr. John Reynolds, and Journalist and writer, Helen Moorhouse, the Póilíní Podcast brings listeners on a journey through stories from the history of Irish policing, stretching over 200 years.

Through in-depth research and first-hand accounts, the podcast tells stories about the people, events and extraordinary moments that have shaped the history of Irish policing, bringing to life stories that might otherwise remain untold.

Produced by Tinpot Productions, in partnership with Acast, it is available on Spotify and Apple.