Teenage boy who died after fall at lake in Co Kerry named as Darragh Byrne

LAST UPDATE | 2 Jul

A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY who died following an incident in An Chonair in Co Kerry yesterday afternoon has been named locally as Darragh Byrne. 

The incident occurred near Pedlars Lake in An Chonair/Conor Pass on the Dingle Peninsula, one of the highest mountain ranges in Ireland.

Darragh was separated from family members and the alarm was raised shortly afterwards, the Irish Coast Guard confirmed.

He was then found seriously injured having fallen from a height, The Journal understands.

Gardaí and emergency services, which included the Dingle Coast Guard Unit, a Coast Guard helicopter, and Kerry Mountain Rescue, attended the scene.

“Shortly after arriving on scene, the casualty was located by R115 and was attended to by emergency services on the ground. The casualty was recovered by R115 and was transferred to Tralee Hospital in County Kerry,” a spokesman for the Irish Coast Guard said.

“The Irish Coast Guard extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”

It is understood that Darragh had been in the area with his parents, having travelled from north Cork.

Darragh was a student at CBS Charleville, who paid tribute in a post online.

“Darragh was a bright and uplifting presence in our school community – a gentle, kind-hearted, and considerate young person who radiated warmth and positivity,” the secondary school said in a statement.

“Darragh will be missed deeply by his friends, his classmates, and all the staff here at CBS Charleville. His absence leaves a space that cannot be filled, and we will remember him with great affection and sorrow.”

Local councillor Robert Brosnan said that it was an “awful tragedy”. He offered his condolences to the Darragh’s family.

Brosnan said that the area in question lacks sufficient signage to aid people visiting An Chonair, and that there is a “dire need” for park rangers to be assigned to the area.

An Chonair is part of Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara in Co Kerry, which is described as Ireland’s first marine national park.

“There are no handrails or steps around parts of Conor’s Pass,” Brosnan said. “Action needs to be taken to prevent many more accidents from occurring in the area.”

A post-mortem examination will take place in due course and a file prepared for the office of the Coroner.

With reporting from Andrew Walsh