Two events on Achill Island this weekend have been postponed, due to the deaths of a teenager and a man in his 60's in a drowning accident off the Donegal coast - both of whom have close family connections with Achill.

16-year old Thomas Weir from Scotland - whose parents are both natives of Achill Island - and Gerry "Malin" Doherty from Donegal, whose wife is from Achill, both drowned when  Mr Doherty's boat capsized less than a kilometre out to sea off Malin Head on Tuesday.

A third man, who is in his late 40s, survived after he clung to a fishing buoy for four hours before being spotted and brought to safety.

Due to the drownings of two men with close Achill connections, the Purteen Harbour Festival - due to take place this Saturday - and the RNLI Open Day at Kildavnet have both been postponed to a later date, as a mark of respect.