Connacht Tribune 27th March, 1954 p.19

The rescue of a three year old girl from drowning at the Quay, Kinvara, Co. Galway on September, 2nd 1952, was recalled at Galway Court on Thursday when Justice T.G. Burke presented to Kevin O’Regan (18) of Kinvara, a certificate for bravery on behalf of Comhairle na Mire Gaile.
The citation stated that at 6.30 p.m. on September, 2nd, 1952, a little girl, who was playing with another child at The Quay, Kinvara, fell into the sea.
Mr O’Regan, who was working nearby, dived fully clothed into the water, swam about five yards, and caught the child who was then sinking. He swam back with the child, carried her up on the quay, and with the assistance of his sister, applied artificial respiration until the child recovered consciousness.
The sea, concluded the citation, was fairly rough at the time and the tide was ebbing. The water was nine feet deep with a drop of six feed from the quay to water level.
Justice Burke congratulated Mr O’Regan on his brave rescue. It gave him great pleasure, he said, to present the award.
He is son of Mr M O’Regan, Merchant, Kinvara, and is a prominent member of the Kinvara hurling and football teams.