Friends’ swim in lake ended in tragic drowning

An inquest heard yesterday of how a swim in the lakes of Killarney for two friends on a warm afternoon last summer ended in tragedy.

Student Cian O’Donoghue, aged 19, of Gortacoosh, Glenflesk, Co Kerry, drowned after failing to make it to the shore as he attempted to swim from an island in Lough Léin, on Jul 13.

Brendan O’Grady was among a group of friends who went to an area known locally as the Sandy Bottom that day. At around 3.30pm, he and Mr O’Donoghue decided to check out some islands in the lake for camping.