Bench unveiled in honour of former Laois resident who drowned while attempting to save man

A memorial ‘buddy bench’ has been unveiled in the Curragh Camp in memory of a former soldier who had lived in Portarlington and died while trying to save a drowning man earlier this year.

James 'Jimmy' Nicholl plunged into the Liffey in a bid to save another man last April. He managed to reach the drowning man but unfortunately both succumbed to the strong currents soon after. 

“We in conjunction with Mr Jack Fahy, Governor of the Midlands Prison made a buddy bench for us to honour a young man who earlier this year at Grattan Bridge in Dublin dived in to save another man and sadly both drowned,” said Deputy Chairman of Post 11  Irish United Nations Veterans Association (Post 11 IUNVA), Dan Whelan.

A former member of the Defence Forces, former Trooper James (Jimmy)  Nicholl was laid to rest in St Conleth’s Cemetery in Newbridge following a funeral mass in St Brigid’s Church in The Curragh on Monday, April 17.

“We as a group got together with the Prison Service Training Section  Chief Joyce Clarke arranged to have the buddy bench made to be placed in the garden to remember the heroism of the former soldier who laid down his life for another,” said Mr Whelan. 

The unveiling coincided with the annual wreath laying Mass for Post 11 Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) in the Curragh.

The attendance included  politicians from the family’s hometown of Portarlington, Dr Cathal Berry, GOC for the DFTC Brig Gen Brendan McGuiness, Minister Martin Heydon, councillors Peggy Dwyer and Anne Connolly.

Former Laois resident who died in rescue attempt hailed a hero

Rest In Peace

Also present were members of IUNVA, Glengarry club, Military Police, ONE and family members of deceased members of the Defence Forces.