TWIN BROTHERS HAVE been crowned Volunteers of the Year for saving over sixty lives since 2010.

Darryl and Declan Barry received the honour from Volunteer Ireland last night for their work with Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, which the pair set up themselves in 2010.

Over the past three years, the organisation has saved 69 lives through the work of 40 volunteers at the centre.

It provides search and rescue cover for region at all times throughout the year.

The twins were nominated by David Hearne, a volunteer at Waterford Marine Search and Rescue, who praised the positive impact they have made on his own life, and their local community.

“I can’t say how much they have changed the lives of hundreds of people by setting up this organisation”, he said.

The twin also provided the ground-work to the introduction of suicide prevention patrols in other regions, such as Wexford and Limerick.

Here’s the full list of winners at the Volunteer Ireland Awards 2013:

• Animals & Environment: John Power, Dunmore East Tidy Towns, Co. Waterford.
• Arts, Culture & Media: Alice Mannion, Kilmurry Drama Group, Co. Roscommon.
• Campaigning & Awareness Raising: Frankie Forde-Waldron, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Co. Mayo
• Children & Youth: Killian O’Kelly, Foróige, Bundoran, Co. Donegal.
• Community: Daniel Downey, Cavan Community Radio & others, Cavan.
• Education & Training: Fintan Mulligan, 121digital, Ashford, Co. Wicklow.
• Health & Disability: Lorraine Dempsey, Special Needs Parents Association, Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
• International Development: Anne Copplestone, The Hope Foundation, Cork city.
• Social Work: Liam Hendry, Assisting Leo Garvey, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
• Sports & Recreation: John McCarthy, Irish Wheelchair Association Sport, East Cork.

Read: Ireland is the most generous country in Europe, says World Giving Index >

More: Costello launches initiative to encourage retired public servants to volunteer >

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