Two teenage boys who died in a tragic drowning incident in a quarry just |outside of Ennis yesterday have been named locally.
Jack Kenneally and Shay Moloney, both aged 15, had been swimming at the disused quarry on the Tulla Road with a group of friends near Knockanean.
Clare FM’s Fiona McGarry reports:
The alarm was raised at around 3.30pm yesterday afternoon, after the boys disappeared below the surface of the water and didn’t re-emerge.
It’s understood that one of them had gotten into difficulty and the other had tried to come to his assistance.
An extensive operation was launched after the alarm was raised.
The Kilkee unit of the Irish Coast Guard, the Shannon based search and rescue helicopter and Clare Civil Defence were involved, along with Gardaí and other emergency services.
The boys were discovered by a member of the Ennis Sub Aqua Club Search and Recovery Team, and were airlifted to University Hospital Limerick shortly before 5 o’clock last evening but were later pronounced dead.
Both Jack and Shay were from Ennis, and had been attending schools in the town.
They were keen and talented sportsmen, and both are also said to have been very popular.
Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard says it’s a tragedy for all involved.
Jack and Shay
Our brothers in arms. Our warriors when the going got tough. Our leaders when the pressure came on. Our pride when they took the field. Our joy when they lit it up off the field. Our devilment when it all got too serious. Our gentlemen always. Our terrible loss. pic.twitter.com/W1Qp9PZrIa
— Ennis Rugby Club (@EnnisRugby) June 1, 2018
