A father of five from Co Cork who has saved two people from drowning in separate incidents over the last decade, will be among 47 people from across the country who will today be rewarded for the bravery they showed in water rescues.

Ireland’s water safety watchdog has called for compulsory water safety programmes in all schools after figures in its annual report showed a rise in the number of people who died by drowning.

Irish Water Safety is warning families to play it safe in the current hot spell.

More than 830 people were rescued from drowning by lifeguards at bathing sites around the Irish coast last year, with almost half of all such incidents taking place in Kerry.

Almost a third of the 114 people who drowned in 2014 did so while taking their own lives, according to figures compiled by Irish Water Safety.

The country’s water safety watchdog has appealed for more people to undertake suicide prevention courses, after another spate of drownings that may have been linked to self-harm.

I read with interest Councillor Noel Collins’s letter (Irish Examiner, January 24). He raised issues about dangerous beaches and waters.

A €4m, Cork City office investment by a Hong Kong-based buyer, is one of the first significant overseas swoops outside the Dublin office market.

Irish Water Safety (IWS) has called for compulsory aquatic training for primary school children as part of a long-term strategy to prevent future drowning tragedies.

The chief executive of Irish Water Safety (IWS), John Leech, says drowning tragedies are avoidable.

The section of river where 17-year-old Christopher O’Sullivan got into difficulties and later died has been used by local swimmers for generations.

A 17-year-old boy was fighting for his life last night after he was caught underwater for over 25 minutes.

Twenty-six rescuers and the 36 lives saved by their bravery were celebrated yesterday at the Irish Water Safety Awards, amid growing concern about the number of drownings by suicide.

The potentially dangerous Portuguese man-of-war have been spotted on beaches around the southern coastline leading to warnings to swimmers to be on their guard.

THERE is no licensing system or regulations for the running of private or public swimming pools in Ireland.

The Gardaí have today launched a major road safety campaign for the bank holiday weekend, with extra checkpoints set to be established on roads across the country.

Irish Water Safety has urged people to take extra care around water over the festive period.

SEPARATE investigations have been launched by gardaí and officials from the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) into the tragic accident which claimed the life of a 62-year-old Swiss tourist off the west Cork coast.

ALMOST all inflatable lifejackets on sale in Ireland are practically useless because they are not equipped with life-saving crotch straps.

ABOUT three people will die by drowning over the coming bank holiday weekend, the state’s water safety watchdog has warned.

SUICIDE accounts for almost half of all people who die by drowning in the Republic, according to the latest figures published by Irish Water Safety.

The Government today urged extreme caution to beach-goers and holidaymakers this bank holiday weekend as new figures show 131 people drowned in Ireland’s waterways last year.

THE body of a teenager was recovered yesterday following a resumed search on Lough Beltra, Co Mayo.

People were warned today to be safety conscious when swimming or boating as August has proved the worst month for drowning tragedies.

THE reshowing of the film, Ryan’s Daughter, for the umpteenth time over Easter was a reminder of the magnificence of Irish beaches. Worth looking at for that alone.

MOTORISTS and anyone taking to the sea have been warned to take extra care over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Boating enthusiasts were tonight warned to take extra care over the Easter weekend when taking to sea with a full moon set to cause higher than normal spring tides.

BABIES taken to chemically treated swimming pools before the age of two are at a greater risk of developing asthma and chronic lung problems, a study shows.

The Irish Coast Guard helped more than 1,785 people last summer as hot weather saw thousands take to the sea and inland waterways.

People were urged to take greater care around water today after it emerged 149 people lost their lives in drowning incidents last year.

The Irish Water Safety Association is holding its annual conference in Drogheda today.

MORE people drown by suicide than by accident, according to a study conducted by Irish Water Safety.

The Irish Water Safety organisation has warned the public not to visit unguarded waterways and beaches this weekend, and to only visit lifeguarded areas instead.