The two water sports enthusiasts who drowned on Saturday evening on the River Barrow were experienced canoeists who were very familiar with the stretch of water in south Carlow.Barrow
The chief executive of Irish Water Safety, Mr John Leech, last night warned the public of the increased risks attached to using rivers following the recent floods.
"Flood conditions expose the public to hazards they need to be aware of. Fast moving water can exert pressure of up to four times its speed against the legs of someone attempting to cross it," he said.
Mr Martin Roche (34), of Rockingham Court, Ferrybank, Co Waterford, and his friend, Mr Neil Byrne (27), Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, drowned when their canoes were swept away on the River Barrow close to St Mullins in south Carlow.
The men, who were both single, got into difficulties at a weir one mile north of St Mullins near Graiguenamanagh.
The bodies were located several miles down river at Poulmounty, Ballywilliam, New Ross, later that night.
Mr Roche had been involved in the sport for 10 years and Mr Byrne had been canoeing for seven years.
Both were said to have lived for the sport and enjoyed nothing better than spending their weekends enjoying water activities on the River Barrow in south Carlow.
The two men had spent Saturday afternoon by the river in St Mullins. While a number of boating enthusiasts had returned home earlier, the two canoeists, accompanied by four other friends in their mid-twenties and early thirties on an inflatable dingy, headed out onto the water.
At the time the river was described as being "very high and fast" as a result of the storms which struck the country earlier in the week.
The four occupants of the dingy also got into difficulties at the same location.
Their inflatable over-turned, but they managed to swim to the river bank.
A Garda spokesman said the alarm was raised at about 6.30 p.m. after a local man saw an empty canoe floating down the river.
Three search and rescue boats were immediately launched from New Ross and Kilkenny while members of the Kilkenny Sub Aqua Club along with the Graiguenamanagh Fire Brigade and up to 50 volunteers also went to the scene.
Mr Victor Furness, chairman and organiser of New Ross Search and Rescue Services, said members put to the river with two boats at about 6.50 p.m.
"The two boats headed up the river, which was very high and fast flowing at the time, and the first body was located at about 9.30 p.m. with the second located 15 minutes later. Both bodies were very close together," he said.
"The river was very high and rapid. It would appear as if they were looking at a challenge that ended in tragedy.
"It was very sad to see young bodies being brought in."
He added that both men had been wearing helmets and life jackets, while Mr Byrne had a whistle in his mouth which would indicate that he had been trying to alert the other man to his whereabouts during their difficulties.