Two Killarney brothers who helped save their sibling’s life earlier this year have now received national recognition, following their success in the Kerry Garda Youth Awards in September.

Conor and Gary O’Sullivan, from Whitebridge Manor, were presented with a National Garda Youth Achievement Award at a ceremony in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, at the weekend. The event was hosted by broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan.
The award recognises their actions on April 6, when their older brother Seán Óg collapsed suddenly at home from an undiagnosed genetic heart condition. The brothers, along with their father Seán, responded immediately and began CPR. Their efforts kept Seán Óg alive until emergency services arrived.
Doctors later confirmed that several members of the family carried Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Conor, Gary, their mother and Seán Óg have since had implantable defibrillators fitted.
The incident prompted significant media attention at the time and the brothers began actively encouraging people to learn CPR. They also started promoting awareness of defibrillators and how quickly they can make a difference in a life-threatening emergency.
Since then, they have led a community effort to install a public defibrillator at the entrance to Whitebridge Manor, beside the main Cork Road. They have carried out fundraising for Killarney First Responders, Brú Columbanus and the Michael Lenihan Heartsafe Campaign.
Their aunt, Anne Holland, nominated them for the Kerry Garda Youth Awards earlier this year, noting that the family “experienced a very traumatic health setback” but that the brothers “stepped up” and turned their experience into a positive effort to help others.