22-03-2003

Mountmellick Garda hero honoured for brave river rescue

Fearless Garda Michael Wynne officially became a real life hero when he plucked a man from the River Owenass and saved his life.

The Garda who was in a squad car, late in August, last year, got a routine call to say that a man was lying in the roadway in Kirwan Park, Mountmellick.

He responded and went to investigate, only to discover that he had left the area and gone to a field somewhere behind St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

With the evening getting darker, at around 9:30pm, Michael Wynne crossed the car park and down the alleyway leading to the River Owenass.

It was here that Garda Wynne saw the man on the other side of the bank and went across the Iron walkway bridge to talk to him.

Suddenly, the man stumbled into the water and with no thought for his own safety, Garda Wynne went to save him.

Commenting on the event, the Garda said: “It was the first time I was faced with anything like this and I instinctively reacted.”

“There was a high bank along the river, I grabbed hold of an arm, and at this stage the man was completely under the water.”

“I just managed to haul him back and pull him back onto the bank.”

“I held him there with his head out of the water until some local youths from Kirwan Park came to my assistance and helped pull him out of the river.”

The man was later taken to Portlaoise General Hospital, suffering from borderline hypothermia and fortunately made a full recovery.

The daring Garda who lives with his wife Anne and son Adam (8) in Mountmellick, admits to not being a particularly strong swimmer but if faced with the same situation – would do it all again.

Claiming he wasn’t putting his own life at risk, the valiant Garda was merely following guidelines set down by the force, where the first priority is to protect against any loss of life.

He said: “While river rescues are part of the job specification, you will do everything in your power to save a life in jeopardy.”

Modest to the end, he added: “I wouldn’t have looked on it as anything major.”

However he did stress the importance of everybody, children especially becoming involved in water safety, particularly coming into the summer months.

For all his courageous efforts he was presented by Minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen with an appropriate, ‘Just in Time’ from the Irish Water Safety Association.

Garda Wynne’s bold intervention was included in awards to people who had successfully carried out rescues from water in 2002 and along with his certificate he received a Seiko watch.

The special award ceremony took place in the National Concert Hall on Thursday, February 6.

Drama festival fever in Mountmellick

This year’s Mountmellick Drama Festival will be one of the best ever. It started last night (Thursday) and continues for right nights. Plays from a range of Irish and International playwrights provide a diverse spread appeal.

“It is still growing,” said Paula Dempsey, Chairperson of the Mountmellick Pioneer Drama Group who organise the Festival. Speaking at the launch she said tribute to the loyal patrons and audience. She also paid a special tribute to Mountmellick Credit Union who once again are the main sponsors of the festival.

Padraig O’Toole of the Festival Committee said one of their Festival’s “strengths”, as he put it, was the Festival venue, the CYMS hall in the town. People can expect to see more improvements in it this year he added. He thanked Fr. McNamara, the local Parish Priest for his continued support for the Festival.

Referring to the CYMS Hall, Mr O’Toole said there may have been a temptation to “turn such a good location into money”. But he paid tribute to Fr MacNamara’s continued patronage and running it as a community resource.

He said Laois provided a wide range of artistic activities, it all began to become co-ordinated in the late 1980’s. in fact he said Laois was the second county to appoint it’s own Arts Officer and he welcomed Muireann Ni Chonail, Co Laois arts Officer, to the launch. He did say, however, there was a shortage of Laois Drama Groups in the festival this year.

Speaking at the launch Fr McNamara said both the Credit Union movement and the Drama Festivals began and developed together in the 1950s. It was an international programme this year he said.

Mountmellick Credit Union was the main sponsor of the Drama Festival for about 5 years. Padraig O’Toole said it was “an endorsement” of the work of the committee. (“We like getting endorsements but we like getting the money too!” he added tongue in check).

Michael Feely, Manager of Mountmellick Credit Union said they tried to give something back to the community. “We have only given back a fraction of what the Drama Festival has given Mountmellick” he said. He added it was Mountmellick Credit Union’s biggest individual sponsorship.

Officially launching the festival, Mountmellick’s “Lord Mayor” Jim Long described the organising committee of the festivals the lifeblood of the town during the festival week. Patrons were treated to a musical interlude when Shane Furlong, an All Ireland Reidori winner, played some Irish tunes on the button accordion.

This years programme is as follows

Tuesday March 18, Moondharrig Players - Kilkenny, “A Crucial Week in the life of a Grocers Assistant” (Tom Murphy).
Wednesday March 19, Bridge Drama Group - Wexford, “Breezeblock Park” (Willie Russel).
Thursday March 20, Carlow Little Theatre, “A View from the Bridge” (Arthur Miller).
Friday March 21, Silken Thomas Players - Kildare, “The Borstal Boy” (Brendan Behan).
Saturday March 22, Crossbridge Drama Group - Dublin, “A Delicate Balance” (Edward Albee).
Sunday March 23, Ballyduff Drama Group, “Antigone”.
Monday March 24, Holycross/Ballycahill Drama Group-Tipperary, “Absent Friends” (Alan Ayckburn)
Tuesday March 25, Classic Revival – Dublin, “Steele Magnolias” (Robert Harling)