A local community in South Roscommon is in deep shock this morning following the deaths of a brother and sister in a drowning tragedy in County Kerry yesterday.

A 50-year-old man and his 62-year-old sister, who lost their lives after getting into difficulty in the water on Thursday evening, had been holidaying in the Ballybunion area from South Roscommon. It’s understood that the man had been living in Lecarrow for many years while his sister was home on holidays from Malmo in Sweden where she resided.

Paddy Kilduff, a former county councillor from Lecarrow, said the local community was devastated by the tragedy in Ballybunion.

“The whole community here in the Lecarrow area is in deep shock following these tragic deaths. I knew the man very well. He was a hard-working businessman, a very sociable man married with two sons. He was originally from Baylough and moved to the parish of St. Johns/Lecarrow/Knockcroghery a good few years ago. It’s just a terrible tragedy.

“I want to express my deepest sympathies to their families. This is just so shocking – it’s hard to comprehend,” said Mr. Kilduff.