» Best friends drowned at swimming blackspot » ‘Heroic’ effort to save pal cost Shay his life

Cill Dara RFC, UL Boh’s RFC, Shannon RFC, St Mary’s College RFC, Sunday’s Well RFC, Malahide RFC, Mulling RFC, Galwegians RFC and many more Irish clubs.

Club president Richard Murphy said messages of sympathy have also come from clubs in Australia, the UK, Australia and Canada.

Departing Munster star Simon Zebo also expressed his sympathies to the boys’ families and friends.

Their coach Eamon Connaughton said: “They were the backbone of the team and we would have

COACH

won neither the North Munster league or cup without them. They were so strong together.

“The two ran riot in the games against Young Munster.

“Both made it to the U16 Munster trials and those trials are still in progress.

“They were out-and-out rugby players, lovely lads and developing into such nice young men and they just got unlucky.

“As resolute and fearless as they were on the pitch, they were as funny, engaging and inspiring off the pitch. Our club was a better place for having them as part of it and their absence will be keenly felt.

“They were great friends, great players and great lads. It is just a tragedy.”

Shay played as hooker while Jack played in the second row. At the site where the boys lost their lives yesterday, friends placed flowers, popcorn, sunglasses and a pair of Ennis RFC shorts.

The drowning of the two comes around 35 years after another star member of the Ennis RFC underage set-up and sports all-rounder, Johnny Scahill died while swimming at the lake.

The area where the lake is has been on the market for a number of years and the Sherry Fitzgerald Mcmahon website confirmed site 62, with a price tag of €185,000, is now sale agreed.

Previous plans by a developer to build houses there were knocked back