Sunny night ended in tragedy when 'gifted man' drowned in river, funeral hears

The late Simon O’Connell. Picture: Rip.ie

A sunny balmy night “became dimmed” last Wednesday when a popular tradesman and fisherman drowned in the River Blackwater in Mallow, a requiem mass has heard.

Simon O’Connell (41) from Meelaheeragh, Kanturk, Co Cork, got in to difficulty in the water whilst swimming at Dysert, Dromagh in Mallow, Co Cork at around 7pm last Wednesday.