A total of 559 swimmers were rescued by lifeguards throughout the country during the July heatwave, according to Irish Water Safety.
301 people had to be rescued by lifeguards using rescue boards and boats and 258 people were rescued by lifeguards swimming to them.
The figures relate to the month of July and cover beaches, rivers and lakes.
Irish Water Safety says the figure of 559 involved 160 more incidents than for the entire bathing season of last year.
In Kerry alone 151 people had to be rescued using rescue craft.
The organisation also says nearly 4,000 people required first aid and there were 575 cases of children being reported lost.
IWS says people should heed the advice of lifeguards and supervise their children, as lifeguards "aren’t babysitters".
