I am indebted to the [London] Standard of 8 February 1858 for alerting me to the sad circumstances reported by Saunders’s Newsletter.
Slevoir OSI ~ 1900
Parsonstown, Friday Evening. — A most distressing accident, which resulted in the death of Randal M’Donnell, Esq, of Slevoir, occurred yesterday. Mr M’Donnell was much devoted to aquatic pursuits, and had made several voyages to Australia and other countries, and had only recently returned from a visit to relations in America.
He was the proprietor of a yacht, which was moored in the River Shannon, opposite Slevoir, in the county Tipperary, and yesterday, as was his habit when at home, he proceeded, it appears, in a small boat, and got on board the yacht. After remaining some time, when stepping into the skiff, to return to Slevoir, it was capsized, and the unfortunate gentleman was thrown into the water. He was very lusty [in the context, this probably means fat], and he soon disappeared.
A peasant from the bank of the river witnessed the fatal occurrence, and ran to Slevoir House and gave the alarm. After some time the body was discovered, but life was quite extinct. It is stated that a brother of the deceased’s also perished some time ago by drowning.
Irish waterways history 