A YOUNG man drowned in the River Barrow at Graiguenamangh in Co Kilkenny yesterday evening.
The 22 year old, from Co Wexford, who was visiting the town, had been swimming with a group of friends when he reportedly disappeared under the water.
It is understood that the man got into difficulty in the middle of the river and a number of people jumped in to try to save him.
Lifebelts were also thrown into the river by onlookers on the riverbank.
The emergency services were called to the scene at 6.15pm and his body was recovered at 7.10pm.
A Garda spokeswoman said that intense efforts at resuscitation failed. His body was removed to Waterford Regional Hospital last night where a postmortem will be carried out.
The young man was not named last night as efforts were underway to contact his family in Co Wexford.
Ann Phelan, a local Labour Party councillor said last night that the people of the town were “heartbroken” and that “a beautiful day when everyone was in great form out enjoying the river and the good weather had ended in tragedy”.
She suspended canvassing and removed her posters from the riverbank area as a mark of respect.
The river Barrow north of the bridge in Graiguenamanagh is one of the best-known of the traditional river bathing spots in the southeast.
The exceptionally good weather of recent days had brought many people to the river but Ms Phelan said the “current is still strong although the water level has fallen a little this week”.
She also said that the water was “very black” resulting in extremely limited visibility.