Volunteers who helped to search for swimmer Máire Ní Fhatharta in Galway Bay have been invited to participate in a guard of honour for her funeral in An Spidéal on Wednesday.
Large numbers of people are expected at her funeral, with several guards of honour also planned by the GAA and local schools.
Hundreds of volunteers joined rescue agencies in the extensive 11-day search of the bay after Ms Ní Fhatharta (32) from An Spidéal was reported missing from Silver Strand beach near Barna on November 12th.
Her body was found close to Silver Strand after a sighting by the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 115 helicopter on Friday afternoon, November 22nd, just hours before Storm Bert hit the coast.
Musician Johnny Duhan had also been reported missing after he went for a swim off the same beach on November 12th, when thick fog developed and he failed to return. His body was recovered some hours later.
The co-ordinated community search for Ms Ní Fhatharta involved people walking the shore twice daily during low tide, and providing food and equipment.
Fishing vessels, sailing club members, kayakers, stand up paddleboarders, jetskiers and divers from a number of sub-aqua clubs participated daily in challenging weather conditions, when temperatures plummeted and there were falls of snow towards the end of last week.
The search was co-ordinated by the Garda and Irish Coast Guard with the RNLI, while Ms Ní Fhatharta’s partner Dan King co-ordinated the many volunteers at sea.
Ms Ní Fhatharta’s family have said that “we would like to say a massive thank you to you all for everything you have done between searching, organising, delivering, donating and all the other things that we may not even be aware of”.
“Your generosity, kindness, dedication and hope have helped us bring our beautiful Máire home. We will be forever in your debt and Máire can finally rest in peace,” the family have said.
Ms Ní Fhatharta’s funeral takes place in An Spidéal at 12 noon on Wednesday, and she will be laid to rest in Reilig Mhaoiris, Cloch Mór, Connemara.
She is survived by her partner Dan, her parents Peig and Johnny, her sisters Fionnuala and Maighréad, and brothers Tomás, Stiofán and Eoghan and extended family.
