A tragic incident occurred in Carlow town when 17-year-old Peter Byrne drowned in the river Barrow after getting into difficulty while swimming. Peter Byrne, a transition year student at a local school, was found by garda divers after his friend raised the alarm.

Byrne had been swimming with a friend at Cloghristick, Milford, when he encountered strong river currents. His friend attempted to help him but was also at risk of being swept away. Fortunately, the friend managed to swim to safety and call for help. Gardaí and emergency services responded swiftly to the scene.

Following a search operation, the Garda Water Unit recovered Byrne's body from the river Barrow. His remains were taken to University Hospital Waterford for a postmortem examination. The community is devastated by the tragic loss, with friends and family in shock over the incident.

A local resident familiar with the Byrne family expressed deep sadness, highlighting the impact on both friends who were present during the incident. The area where the tragedy occurred remains cordoned off as investigations continue.