Man drowns in River Barrow in Carlow

Father-of-one pulled from water but died at scene in Graiguecullen

The River Barrow by the Town Park area of Carlow town, where a man has drowned. File image: Google
The River Barrow by the Town Park area of Carlow town, where a man has drowned. File image: Google

A father-of-one died on Wednesday night when he got into difficulty in the River Barrow in Carlow town.

The drowning incident occurred at about 9.20pm on Wednesday close to the town park area in Graiguecullen which straddles the Carlow and Laois border.

The man, who is originally from the North, had been living in Kilkea, on the Kildare/Carlow border and was aged in his late 30s, got into difficulties shortly after entering the river.

Several other swimmers and onlookers attempted in vain to assist the man and bring him to safety.

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Both a man and woman jumped into the river and pulled him out of the river and onto the decking near where boats were moored.

Emergency services arrived on scene within minutes, but despite desperate efforts to revive him he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gardaí are treating his death as an accident and foul play is not suspected.

Local Fine Gael councillor Tom O’Neill said his thoughts were with all of the late father’s loved ones and those at the scene on Wednesday night.