School pays tribute to 'very talented' teenager who lost his life while swimming in Shannon
Tributes are being paid this afternoon to a Longford teenager who lost his life while swimming with around 20 others in the River Shannon.
Friends of 17-year-old Damola Adetosoye made desperate efforts to rescue him when he got into difficulty at around 5pm yesterday evening.
A secondary school in Longford has paid tribute to Damola, saying he will be sadly missed.
In a statement on Facebook, Templemichael College says Damola will be remembered as a "very talented, enthusiastic and hardworking student".
They said: "Damola will be remembered as a very talented, enthusiastic and hardworking student. He immersed himself in so many aspects of our school life and was always on hand to help out.
"He was to start his Leaving Cert year this September. He was a very popular student with staff and students alike and an excellent role model to all.
"Damola will also be remembered on the soccer field where his talents, skills and work ethic were also well known. He represented the school with great fervour, captaining school teams on many occasions.
"A fearless but fair competitor Damola gained the respect of teammates and opponents alike. He will be sadly missed."
His family and friends are being supported by local youth services in the area this lunchtime.
Damola was a keen soccer and GAA player - and was also a member of the Attic House youth centre in Longford town - which is open today to support his family and friends.
Chairperson of the centre Ruth McGarry Quinn, speaking on Shannonside Northernsound radio, paid tribute to all the "amazing" young people who helped and assisted emergency services at the scene.
Gardaí are to interview eyewitnesses as part of their ongoing inquiries and a post-mortem examination on Damola’s body will also take place this afternoon.
A small community in Co Roscommon is in shock this morning, following the drowning of a local teenager in the River Shannon.
The 17-year-old boy got into difficulty around 5pm at Harbour View marina near the village of Tarmonbarry in Co Roscommon.
His friends efforts to save him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is understood he was from the Newtownforbes area of Co Longford.
Local divers were involved in the search operation.
Gardaí and other emergency services attended the scene with members of Civil Defence.
Local man Tom Crosbie, who developed the marina, says the community’s been hit hard by the tragedy.
He said: "While we have had drownings over the years, this one, with the young man being so young, it’s very very sad."
He also says the teenager was well known in the area.
He said: "The young man is local enough to the area, living in Newtownforbes with his family there.
"I understand he was very into sport, played GAA at the local club."
