Nominations

The Deeds of Bravery Council (Comhairle na Míre Gaile) was established under the Deeds of Bravery Act 1947. This council is the body who considers nominations and makes awards to members of the public deemed to have performed Acts of Bravery as defined under the Act.

Under the Act a “deed of bravery” means an effort to save human life “involving personal risk”. The deed must have been committed after 4 July 1945, in Ireland or on an Irish-registered ship.

Nominations, using the nomination form, should be sent to sec@bravery.ie by 30th April for consideration in the Awards for that year. In the event that a nomination is received after this date, it may be added to the submissions for the following round.

All nominations received by the Bravery Awards Secretariat will be acknowledged and then their eligibility under the Act will be considered.

If the nomination fulfils the criteria as laid down by the Act, supporting documentation from bodies such as An Garda Síochána or the Irish Coastguard may be sought. Neither the Council, nor the Secretariat of the Council, directly contact witnesses.

This documentation, along with other relevant information, is drafted into a submission for consideration by Comhairle na Míre Gaile (The Deeds of Bravery Council) at their annual meeting, which is traditionally held in the Summer. On occasion an application may be considered without supporting documentation.

The National Bravery Awards celebrate inspiring acts of bravery where a person has put their life at risk trying to save someone else. It is the only civilian awards programme of its kind in Ireland and the Ceann Comhairle’s Office, the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Department of Justice are proud to facilitate and support these awards.

PRÓISEAS AINMNIÚCHÁIN

Bunaíodh Comhairle na Míre Gaile faoin Acht um Ghníomhartha Gaile, 1947. Is é an chomhairle seo an comhlacht a bhreithníonn ainmniúcháin agus a dhéanann dámhachtainí chuig daoine den phobal a meastar Gníomhartha Gaile a bheith déanta acu, de réir mar a mhínítear faoin Acht iad.

Ciallaíonn “gníomh gaile” faoin Acht, iarracht duine a tharrtháil ón mbás “lena ngabhann fiontar pearsanta”. Ní mór an gníomh a bheith déanta tar éis an 4 Iúil 1945, in Éirinn nó ar bord loinge atá cláraithe in Éirinn.

Is ceart ainmniúcháin, a dhéantar ar an bhfoirm ainmniúcháin, a chur chuig sec@bravery.ie faoin 30 Aibreán le go ndéanfar breithniú orthu sna Dámhachtainí don bhliain sin. Aon ainmniúchán a gheofar i ndiaidh an dáta sin, féadfar é a chur ar an liosta don chéad bhabhta eile.

Maidir le gach ainmniúchán a gheobhaidh Rúnaíocht na Míre Gaile, seolfar admháil á rá go bhfuarthas é agus ansin breithneofar incháilitheacht an ainmniúcháin faoin Acht.

Má chomhlíonann an t-ainmniúchán na critéir a leagtar síos leis an Acht, féadfaidh sé go mbeidh doiciméid tacaíochta á lorg ó chomhlachtaí amhail an Garda Síochána nó Garda Cósta na hÉireann. Ní théann an Chomhairle, ná Rúnaíocht na Comhairle, go díreach i dteagmháil le fianaithe.

Déantar na doiciméid sin, mar aon le faisnéis iomchuí eile, a dhréachtú ina n-iarratas lena bhreithniú ag Comhairle na Míre Gaile ag a cruinniú bliantúil, a sheoltar sa samhradh de ghnáth. Féadfar iarratas a bhreithniú uaireanta gan doiciméid tacaíochta a bheith leis.

Sna Dámhachtainí Míre Gaile déantar ceiliúradh ar ghníomhartha gaile spreagúla ina bhfuil duine tar éis a shaol nó a saol féin a chur i mbaol ar mhaithe le duine eile a tharrtháil. Is é an t-aon chlár dámhachtainí dá chineál in Éirinn agus is ábhar bróid don Cheann Comhairle agus do Thithe an Oireachtais agus don Roinn Dlí agus Ceart na dámhachtana seo a éascú agus tacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh.