A 10-year-old boy has become the third person to drown in the last two days of the ongoing heat wave.
The child had been swimming with a friend in Youghal, Co Cork when he got into difficulties and was believed to have been swept away by a current.
Frantic efforts were made to resuscitate him by emergency services but he was ultimately pronounced dead at Cork University Hospital just after 7pm this evening.
His death comes after two other fatalities yesterday as thousands flock to the Irish coast and waterways to enjoy the best of the recent weather.
An emergency call was received at 4.18pm requesting immediate assistance and stating that a number of nearby people had entered the water in a bid to rescue the boy, who has not been named.
The Waterford based helicopter, Youghal inshore lifeboat and coastguard units all responded and had located him shortly afterwards.
The coastguard unit transferred him to a nearby pontoon area where unsuccessful efforts were made to resuscitate him. He was then transferred to Cork by air and on to Cork University Hospital (CUH).
There are concerns that no let up in conditions heading into the weekend could lead to further incidents.
Met Éireann said that searing conditions will likely reduce somewhat next week, but good weather is still virtually certain.
A spokeswoman said some temperature records could be broken tomorrow while there is also a threat of heavy thunder showers in some areas.
“There is a hint that these temperatures could spark off a thunder shower; I think it would be in the places that get the highest temperatures,” she said.
“It won’t be a light shower; it will either be totally dry or a total downpour. It could be very heavy.”
Temperatures tomorrow are more likely to peak in the east and northeast whereas the hottest places yesterday were in the west and midlands.
“It may not be quite as sunny in the northwest either [with] a threat of some sea fog coming in but other than that it is no change really.”
Today's highest single temperature of 29 degrees was recorded in Mayo. Earlier this week it reached 29.5 degrees in Shannon.
But while the all time high of 33 degrees – recorded sometime in the 1800s – has yet to been matched, the country’s recent tropical conditions have a while to go before overtaking even more recent highs.
In July, 2006 Baldonnel in Dublin registered 31 degrees, topped 11 years earlier by Carlow with 31.5.
Temperatures in recent days have also remained high at night, although that was much more the case in the west where highs of 17 degrees compared to just 13 in the east.
This weekend the hot weather is expected to wane slightly, although while temperatures fall and the amount of sunshine diminishes, conditions are still expected to meet expectations.
“It’s going to change because it’s not going to be as sunny and it’s not going to be as hot but it’s going to be pretty pleasant,” the spokeswoman said.
