Swimmers, sailors and those involved in other watersports have been urged pay special attention to safety this summer as the Irish Water Safety Association launched its annual awareness campaign.
Water Safety Awareness Week begins today and runs until next Monday June 6th, the bank holiday.
Some 70,000 yacht and boat enthusiasts will take to the seas, rivers and inland waterways of Ireland this weekend for leisure, IWS said.
"Thousands more will go swimming, diving, angling, canoeing, surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing.
"Others are at risk as they walk adjacent to our shoreline and inland waterways so it is essential that the public are aware of the hazards that they expose themselves to and ensure that the risk to them is minimised there are many guides for the public to learn from on the Irish Water Safety Website at www.iws.ie."
Local authorities will employ lifeguards on beaches this weekend, traditionally one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year.
IWS said the public is encouraged to swim and bathe on these beaches for added security.
"It is crucial that the school teachers play their part in raising awareness prior to the school break up for holidays and especially as we approach the bank holiday weekend where many members of the public will be at risk as they pursue aquatic activities such as swimming, diving, surfing, wind surfing sailing and walking near the water," IWS said.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche lent his support to the event at an awards ceremony today in New Ross, Co Wexford.
The Mayor of Wexford County Council, Larry O Brien, was presented with the Charles Thomson Award, which is given to the local authority that is deemed to have done most to promote water safety in Ireland each year.
Counties Clare, Kerry and Kilkenny were presented with certificates of merit for their outstanding contribution to water safety promotion and awareness.
This is the third year that IWS has run Water Safety Awareness Week.