The two men were honoured at a ceremony in Dublin today.
Two members of staff at a midlands heritage site have been labelled "Guardian Angels" following a life-saving intervention.
Anthony Ryan and Aidan Doyle, who are both guide staff at Clonmacnoise with the Office of Public Works, have been honoured at a ceremony in Phoenix Park today.
They were on duty when a German tourist collapsed and was unresponsive at the site in September of last year.
Michael Schaper, the 72-year-old German man, and his wife Heinke were on a driving holiday around Ireland in 2022 when the incident occurred.
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O'Donovan, congratulated the two men for the way they responded in what was "literally a life or death situation."
In a statement to Midlands 103, Deputy Head of Germany’s Mission in Ireland, Mr. Christian Resch, says:
"We are so grateful to both Aidan and Anthony for their swift intervention in this serious situation.
That day, they were the guardian angels of a German citizen, leaping into action and preserving the life of Mr Schaper.
On behalf of the German embassy, we would like to thank the Office of Public Works staff for their assistance and efficient management of the incident."
Minister O’Donovan also says:
"With over 2000 staff in a wide range of activities in different parts of the country, the OPW undertakes work that impacts positively on large portions of the population and that endures for future generations.
I want to acknowledge first-hand the calibre and expertise of the staff here today.
The very act of all gathering together to recognise your years of service is as important for the organisation and management as it is for the individual recipient.
The OPW truly is a critical provider of essential services for Government and the taxpayer and is valued as such."
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