He may have saved three people from drowning on Saturday morning, but student Garda Colm Finnerty was back on duty in Kilmainham Garda Station the same night.
Garda Finnerty (23) from Shroankeeragh, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Roscommon, was modest about his achievements and embarrassed by the media attention.
The student garda was on patrol with two colleagues at 3.15 a.m. on Saturday when they got a call to go to Frank Sherwin Bridge, near Heuston Station. A man had been seen jumping into the River Liffey just after 3 a.m. and a passer-by had attempted to rescue him.
Both men were in difficulty when Garda Finnerty jumped in and brought them to the ladder at the quay wall. At that stage, a third man had jumped in to assist, but he too got into difficulty and Garda Finnerty also rescued him. All three men were in their early 20s. They were taken to St James's Hospital and released later that day.
Garda Finnerty's mother Mary said the family was very proud of him and also very grateful that everyone was safe.
"His dad is a detective in Carrick-on-Shannon so he has done the family proud," she said. "You hear so much waste of human life when you wake up every day so it's great to hear of three lives being saved."
She said his actions were typical of the young man who was always a strong swimmer. "He was a real water baby and always daring. He would think nothing of diving off cliffs or boats. But his training in Templemore really stood to him."
Mrs Finnerty said that she lay awake on Saturday night worrying about what might have happened.
"All I could think of was that he had his boots on when he went into the river and it gave me the shivers. We are very grateful that he is okay and that all three were rescued."
With six months training at Templemore behind him, the student garda will pass out as a garda in 18 months. Asked if the rescue would help his career he said, "I suppose it can't hurt it".
The publicity-shy garda will be back in the spotlight this week, when Irish Water Safety honours him with their "Seiko Just in Time Rescue Award".
This is given to people who voluntarily save members of the public from drowning.
Mr Roger Sweeney, Irish Water Safety spokesman said Garda Finnerty had reacted selflessly and quickly in coming to the aid of the men.
"He used initiative and quick thinking to conduct the successful rescue of complete strangers. IWS commends him for his valour and courage in executing this dramatic rescue. He and his colleagues at the scene deserve our admiration and sincere thanks for their team effort."
Mr Sweeney said the incident demonstrated the importance of learning life-saving rescue skills.
Tributes have also been paid to the Cork garda who saved a woman from drowning in the River Lee in the city yesterday morning. At about 6.53 a.m. a woman was seen entering the river at Father Matthew Quay.
Garda Jim O'Donoghue, of Anglesea Street Garda Station jumped into the river and rescued the woman who is believed to be in her 40s.
Garda O'Donoghue is well-known in sporting circles - he is a prominent Gaelic footballer.
The garda and the woman were taken to the South Infirmary Hospital yesterday morning for medical checks. Neither was seriously injured in the incident.
Some 177 people drowned in the State last year, 76 in what were deemed to be "non-accidental" incidents.