Tributes have been paid to a young teenager who drowned at a marina in the River Shannon yesterday evening.

Gardaí are investigating the tragic incident that occurred at around 5pm yesterday.

The 17-year-old Longford native got into difficulty at around 5pm while swimming off a marina at Tarmonbarry, County Roscommon.

His friend’s efforts to save him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Local man Tom Crosbie, who developed the marina, says the community has been hit hard by the tragedy.

“While we have had drownings over the years, this one – with the young man being so young – it is very, very sad,” he said.

“The young man is local enough to the area, living in Newtownforbes with his family there,” he said.

“I understand he was very into in sport, played GAA with the local club.”

The boy's body was retrieved by local divers, and a post-mortem is due to be carried out this afternoon.