From Mayo's Archives: Dramatic Achill island rescue of 1941 recalled
by Tom Gillespie
IN April 1941 a brave Castlebar youth was presented with a Bronze Medal and Certificate for the dramatic rescue of a drowning man in Achill two years earlier.
While two ladies who assisted in the rescue were equally recognised for their role in the rescue, it was some time before the identity of the Castlebar youth was established.
Sadly, the victim who survived the incident developed pneumonia and pleurisy and passed away some months later.
The Connaught Telegraph reported on the presentation ceremony on Saturday, April 5, 1941, with the following report:
An interesting ceremony took place at Castlebar District Court on Wednesday when Mr. William David Coyne, District Justice, on behalf of the Royal Humane Society, presented Mr. George Kenny, Mons Terrace, Castlebar, with the society’s Bronze Medal and Certificate, for his heroic part in the rescue of the late Mr. Michael Kelly, Main Street, Castlebar, from drowning at Dooagh, Achill, on August 23, 1939.
The Justice said he had great pleasure in making the presentation and warmly congratulated the young man for his very brave action.
Mr. Kenny, who was just 20 years of age at the time of the rescue, is eighth son of Mr. Michael Kenny, Mons Terrace, who, in active service in the Boer War and Great Wars, was awarded, amongst other distinguished service medals, the D.C.M., for conspicuous bravery.
It was not until some time after the rescue that the society succeeded in establishing the identity of Mr. Kenny, and for his modesty in the matter Mr. Kenny also deserves commendation.
Below we give a full account of the rescue as supplied by Mr. Edward Arches, Ard-na-Ree, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Hon. Representative for Dublin of the Royal Society:
Mr. Kelly, in order to get a swim, had to go out beyond the surf, and in doing this had to swim parallel with the shore.
But when he had been swimming for some time he found that he was unable to get back to shore as a very strong current was bringing him out further and further.
At this particular spot a river running down from the mountains created a powerful current, and it was in this current Mr. Kelly was caught.
A young lady named Pemberton, of Dublin, went to his rescue and, on reaching him, attempted to bring him in. A second lady, a Miss Purdie, also of Dublin, next went out to assist.
Mr. Kenny, whose attention was directed to the incident, at once proceeded to the scene and with the two ladies managed to keep the drowning man from being swept away.
But the current pressure was increasing, and both rescuers and victim were in great danger of being swept away and matters assumed a very grave aspect. All four were greatly exhausted, Mr. Kelly being practically unconscious.
At this stage one of the ladies decided to swim for a swimming cushion with which children were playing some distance away.
She left the drowning man supported by Miss Purdie and Mr. Kenny, crossed the breakers successfully, and succeeded in returning with the cushion.
Mr. Kenny and the two ladies managed to push Mr. Kelly onto the air cushion, one of them lay on its surface also, using her hands as paddles, while the others pushed it through the surf.
In this manner all three rescuers reached the shore with their burden, and successfully countered the heavy breakers en route to safety.
On nearing the shore a Mr. Smith went out to render assistance to the exhausted rescuers and proved a great help. By this time a large crowd had gathered on the shore, but there was no doctor available. A curragh had also arrived to render help.
The two ladies and Mr. Kenny were thoroughly exhausted after their tremendous struggle with the tidal waters. The rescued man was unconscious, but gradually recovered.
As a result of his ordeal Mr. Kelly later developed pneumonia, and pleurisy, and after being treated in hospital he gradually failed and, after lingering for a short few months, he died.
The rescue took place 200 yards from the shore where the depth of the water was 15 feet and a powerful outward current prevailed.
The rescue was considered by the Royal Humane Society as a most heroic act, and in August last both ladies were presented with Bronze Medals by the ex-Lord Mayor of Dublin, but the identity of the third rescuer (Mr. Kenny) could not be established.
Mr. D. Walsh, P.C., of An Grinaun, Charleville Road, Tullamore, communicated with me, and the matter was reopened in London, with the result that Mr. Kenny has now been awarded a Bronze Medal and Certificate.
This constitutes a record in Ireland, for it is the first time in which three Bronze Medals have been awarded for one rescue, but I might add that all the recipients deserve the highest praise for their magnificent work on the occasion.