Tributes to Kildare teen who died helping friend from river

Tributes have been paid to the 13-year-old boy who died after an incident in a river in Co Kildare on Tuesday evening.

It is understood the teenager had jumped into the Lyreen River close to the Kilcock Road in Maynooth to help save a friend in difficulty about 4pm.

The 13-year-old has been named locally as Oisín Quigley, a second year student at Maynooth Post Primary school.

Oisín was with two school friends as they walked near the river when the incident happened. It is understood when one of the friends fell in and got into difficulty and Oisín jumped in to try save them.

One of the group managed to raise the alarm and contact emergency services.

A Garda spokesman said the three teenagers were brought to Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin. Oisín died some time later. The other boy and girl are being treated at the hospital and are thought to be in a stable condition.

Maynooth Post Primary school principal Johnny Nevin said Oisín would be "greatly missed".

"We learned last evening of the death of Oisín Quigley, one of our students. This is a terrible tragedy for the Quigley family, for Maynooth Post Primary School, Maynooth Community College and our community," he said in a statement.

“We are deeply saddened by these events. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Quigley family and friends and the other students involved in the incident.”

Mr Nevin said the school’s thoughts were also with Oisín’s two older siblings, who are students at the school.

“We have been in contact with his parents and they have requested that we all understand their need for privacy at this difficult time,” he said.

“Offers of support have been pouring in and are greatly appreciated...The schools have implemented their Critical Incident Management Plan.”

Local Cllr Teresa Murray said the community was in shock on hearing of the teenagers death.

“No words can be found to describe this. People are deeply saddened and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” she said.

“It is devastating. There’s a great sense of sorrow and loss in the community.”