Thursday 7^th October 2010 marked an historic day for Athlone Sub Aqua Club when club members Derry McMahon, Gerard Craven, Ollie Fallon, Geraldine Fogarty, Aidan Henry, Cian Hynes, Stewart McMickan, Damian Mellett, Liam Sheringham and Robbie West were presented with Long Service Medals in recognition of their years of voluntary service to search and rescue work. These Athlone divers were joined by eighty-six members from twelve other diving clubs throughout the country to receive these medals from the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, at a function held in the Shelbourne Hotel, St. Stephens Green, Dublin at 10.00am. This was the first occasion that sports divers involved in the voluntary provision of search and rescue assistance to the Gardai and other state authorities were honoured with this award. Following this function all medal recipients travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin at 3.00pm to attend a reception hosted by President Mary McAleese to commend their dedication and commitment  to search and rescue activities.