Lifeboats from Rosslare Harbour and Wexford RNLI were this evening involved in a search of the sea after a swimmer was reported to be in difficulty off Curracloe beach.

The volunteer lifeboat crew from Rosslare Harbour launched their all weather lifeboat at 5.22 pm following a request from the Irish Coast Guard.

A member of the public raised the alarm after sighting what they believed to a swimmer in difficulty 300m off Ballinesker, which is north off Rosslare Harbour. No one was reported missing.

Once on scene, Rosslare Harbour RNLI began a search of the area and requested the assistance of Wexford RNLI which subsequently launched its inshore lifeboat.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 was also involved in the search along with two local fishing vessels.

Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a fresh easterly to north easterly breeze blowing.

Following a search of the area for an hour and three quarters, the Coast Guard requested both RNLI lifeboats to stand down.

Speaking after the call out, Dave Maloney, Rosslare Harbour RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said: ‘The member of the public who raised the alarm this evening deserves credit for doing so. In what was a joint operation between ourselves and the Coast Guard we searched the area in question for just under two hours with the assistance of two fishing vessels from the area. No one was found and no one has been reported missing. We would always encourage the public to alert the emergency services if they see anyone they believe to be in trouble or any signs of danger’.