The children were NOT hospitalised as a result of the incident which happened just before 2pm.
They had been out swimming when they were carried out to sea in strong currents.
Two men – understood to be tourists from Dublin and Belfast and related to some of the children – then went to their rescue. Two lifeguards also had to be rescued.
A Coastguard helicopter later took one of the men to hospital as a precaution.
Our picture shows the helicopter landing at Letterkenny General Hospital.
It’s understood local people used a boat to bring some of the swimmers to shore.
“It was all over very quickly and it’s a miracle that no-one was lost,” said one local man.
“The man from Belfast brought three of the children ashore and probably saved their lives.”
He added: “There are some reports that children were taken to hospital. They weren’t thank God, they’re ok.”