Wicklow GAA is mourning the tragic drowning of county footballer Ciaran Jones last night.

The off-duty Garda's body was recovered earlier today by a rescue team after he was swept away by a river swollen from torrential rain near his Kilbride Manor home in Co. Wicklow last night. The 25-year-old has been hailed as a hero in today's newspapers after he attempted to save the lives of others before he was swept away by the raging Liffey waters at 7pm.

His body was discovered at Ballyward Bridge, which is close to where the incident occurred, before 9am..

Superintendent Eamon Keogh of Blessington Garda Station said Garda Jones, who has been a member of the force for about four years, was pulled into the river while trying to come to the aid of a motorist.

"He was seen for a few moments by friends and then he wasn't seen again," he said.

Garda Jones, who was stationed at Stepaside in south Co. Dublin, was a prominent member of Kilbride GAA club and had been a member of Wicklow football panel for the past four years.

While Kilbride are not a senior club, Ciaran's outstanding displays in their attack didn't go unnoticed to former Wicklow manager Mick O'Dwyer, who considered him to be a valued member of his squad.

Remembrance Statement on Kilbride GAA Website CLICK HERE Tweet

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