Two young men die in holiday drowning tragedies

TWO young Irishmen have died in drowning tragedies in Cyprus and the USA.

One of the men, a 23-year-old, plumber died in a swimming pool in Cyprus just two days after he arrived in a holiday resort.

Frank O'Meara, from Ballydonnell, Mullinahone, Co Tipperary, lost his footing as he made his way back to his apartment in the resort of Ayia Napa. He drowned after hitting his nose off the side of the pool in a freak accident.

Mr O'Meara had been out drinking with a group of friends, including his brother, earlier in the day, but left the group early.

His brother, Sean, a garda stationed in Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny, was with him on the holiday, along with five other young men from Mullinahone.

The group had been enjoying themselves on Monday in the apartment block which brochures say is "the perfect choice for a young and lively holiday".

They flew out on Saturday night from Dublin airport.

The O'Meara family received a phone call before 4am yesterday, telling them the devastating news.

The young man was well known in Kilkenny and boxed with the Marble City Boxing Club and played underage hurling for Mullinahone. His father, Eddie, is an independent member of Tipperary Co Council and worked for a period with Kilkenny Truck Centre, Callan Road, Kilkenny.

Mick Hoban, of the Marble City Boxing Club, said Frank O'Meara was very dedicated to his sport.

"He won a county championship with us and was very unlucky not to win a Leinster crown," Mr Hoban said. He recently finished a boxing course and was involved in promoting underage boxing in his home parish.

In a separate incident, a Co Louth student died while swimming with friends in the US.

Graeme Black, aged 21, from Dundalk, died when he was pulled under by a swift current while swimming in the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania late on Sunday night. His body was discovered on Monday, following a search of the river, in Westmoreland County.