It was a tragedy that shook Sligo and shocked the country. Three young teenage friends from the south Sligo countryside were drowned while on a visit to Strandhill on 17 May 1998.

Bobby Taylor (brother of former Sligo GAA star Paul Taylor), Tommy Coyle and Michael Higgins played football together with Eastern Harps and soccer with Gurteen Celtic.

Gurteen man PJ McKeon says it was one of the greatest tragedies to hit the region in living memory.

“Everybody remembers exactly where they were when they first heard the sad news that three of our finest young Sligo teenagers had drowned in Strandhill. It knocked the heart out of our community at the time. They were three great young lads with their lives ahead of them.”

While stone memorials have been erected in Keash and Gurteen, a new song has been composed to remember Bobby, Tommy and Michael. So Haunted By Strandhill is an emotional and enduring tribute to the three young men who lost their lives that fateful day.

It was composed by Jimmy McArdle, a singer/songwriter who is originally from Belfast but now lives in Springfield, Mass, USA. Jimmy has many friends and relatives in Gurteen.

He has featured with some top ballad groups and has also played at the Kennedy family parties in Cape Cod.

The CD launch takes place in Drury’s lounge in Monasteraden, Co Sligo, on Saturday 13 August when Jimmy will travel over from America to head-up the launch, with back-up being provided by the Maureen O’Dowd Group. The proceeds from the sale of the CD (€10) are, at the request of the bereaved families, being donated to the RNLI rescue service.