Yesterday's drowning tragedy at Bannow Bay, Co Wexford, comes less than three months after three teenage boys were drowned at Strandhill in Sligo during an earlier warm spell.
Then a group of four waded into the sea to cool off during an outing on the beach and got into difficulties.
Three were drowned while the fourth was saved by a surfer who saw them get into difficulties.
Their deaths raised a number of important questions about water safety, particularly the question of educating people to the dangers of the seaside.
At the time, the National Safety Council chief executive, Mr Pat Costello, said: "Rather than focusing on the negative and trying to draw up a list of bad beaches, we would prefer to concentrate on the positive beaches and highlight them."
He also stressed the need for people to seek local advice on the area they are visiting and any dangers which might exist.
Yesterday, what appears to have been a happy family outing also turned to tragedy.
Members of a Dublin family, a father, his son and his nephew, who were staying in a local guest house, were digging for cockles on a mud flat in the Co Wexford bay, a popular spot with holidaymakers, when they were cut off by the rapidly rising tide.
The incident happened at about 5.30 p.m. yesterday. The 52-yearold father drowned and the seven-year-old nephew is missing. The 13-year-old son managed to make land and raised the alarm at 7.30 p.m.
He is being treated for shock and hypothermia at Wexford General Hospital.
The Air Corps Alouette helicopter based at Waterford Regional Airport, the Fethard-on-Sea lifeboat and the Irish Marine Emergency Rescue Units from Fethard-on-Sea, Kilmore Quay, Rosslare and Carnsore Point were quickly on the scene, arriving before 8 p.m.
The body of the man was recovered at about 9 p.m. and early this morning the search for his nephew was continuing.
Powerful searchlights were deployed on the bay and many local people gathered to assist in the rescue operation.
According to locals the bay, which is almost surrounded by land, is relatively shallow but the incoming tide rises rapidly. It is regarded as unsafe for swimming because of this and because of shifting sands.
But while local people were well aware of the dangers in the bay, it is unclear if any warning signs aimed at visitors are posted in the area.
"It's not an area where you would swim but you need to be careful of the tides when walking on the mud flats as you can be cut off very quickly," one local said.
The area where the tragedy occurred would have been surrounded by the tide in minutes and the group, intent on collecting cockles would have been unaware of this until it was too late.
The tragedy is believed to be the third which had occurred in the area in recent years.
"We hate August around here," one local woman told The Irish Times recalling two other tragedies in which six people died while fishing.
Wexford Co Council employs 20 lifeguards on bathing beaches around the county during July and August.
Full-time cover is provided at Duncannon, Rosslare Strand, Curracloe and Courtown with weekend cover at Ballymoney and Morris Castle.
Bathing beaches in Wexford described as dangerous include: Cairnivan; part of Cahore; part of Duncannon and Big Burrow near Grange Strand.
Following the Sligo deaths the National Safety Council issued guidelines for people visiting beaches.
They are:
Know the location and, if not, ask locals about possible hazards.
Pay attention to signs warning of specific dangers.
Never swim immediately after consuming food or alcohol.
Never swim alone.
Swim within your depth and parallel to the shore.
Don't swim out after any drifting object.
Never let children out of your sight.