Remembering a local fishing tragedy nine years ago this month

A simple flower arrangement lies against a pole in Hodson Bay remembering a lakeside tragedy which claimed two lives nine years ago this month, and shook the entire Athlone area to its core.

It poignantly reads: "Always in our thoughts our much loved son David and his friend Daryl".

Daryl Burke (30) from Portadown, and David Warnock (27) from Richhill, were on a fishing trip on Lough Ree when their boat sank close to Hodson Bay in poor weather conditions on March 20, 2014.

Another friend, John Trimble, from Markethill in Armagh was the sole survivor of the horrific lake tragedy.

Members of the RNLI, a number of sub-aqua clubs, the coastguard helicopter, local anglers and members of the Garda Sub Aqua Unit trawled the lake for several weeks in search of Mr Burke's bod following the dreadful tragedy as the community rallied around his devastated family. The young father's body was only recovered over two weeks later on April 5.

Both fatalities were members of the Portadown Pikers angling group, who remembered their fallen members in recent days.

"Standing at their graves this morning I can't believe its 9 years from we lost two of our founder members on Lough Ree.

"Thinking of them and their families on this sad day. Our sympathy is with you always. Rest Easy Daryl and David. Gone but never forgotten tight line lads," the poignant post said in tribute on March 20.

Both men's family travel to the area several times a year and have supported RNLI fundraisers and events in the past.

In 2019, the men's friends and fellow anglers laid wreaths at a memorial in Coosan Point where all those who lost their lives in the lake and in the Shannon are remembered. A plaque and seat by the lake is dedicated to the two late fishermen.