The Capt. Dara Fitzpatrick Award pays tribute to Dara’s powerful legacy as an Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue pilot by celebrating inspirational women who work in the Irish pre-hospital community and emergency services. IPERN are privileged to host this very special award honouring the memory of our “Banríon na Spéire” with the support of the Fitzpatrick family. The Capt. Dara Fitzpatrick Award is presented by the IPERN Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Special Interest Group. We seek to acknowledge our unsung heroes – women who epitomise the following values as they go about their work in our communities;

• Compassion and Kindness

• Strength and Bravery

• Leadership and Team-work

• Professionalism

The next Call for Nominations for the Capt. Dara Fitzpatrick Award will be announced soon. If you feel that you would be a suitable candidate or if you would like to nominate one of your colleagues we strongly encourage you to get in touch. Nominations are welcome for women working in either full-time or voluntary roles who have distinguished themselves over the course of their career or during a particular call or event. Nominees from previous years are not precluded from being nominated again – all nominations are welcome. 

For further information on the Capt. Dara Fitzpatrick Award contact IPERN Chairperson Dr. Niamh Cummins or EDI Lead Ms. Grainne O’Shea on IPERN999@gmail.com and follow us on X/Twitter @IPERN999 for updates #DaraAward