The search for a missing sailor off the Connemara coast has been stood down after a body was located this morning (Sat).
Identity details for the body have not yet been confirmed.
However, the sailor reported missing on Thursday evening (June 6) has been named locally as Conor McLoughlin of Foynes Yacht Club in Co Limerick, who sailed the “Peggy M”.
It is understood that Mr McLoughlin’s small dinghy became detached or went adrift off the Carna area of Connemara and he swam out after it.
RTÉ News reported that a Mayday call was issued from a vessel near Oileán Máisean (Mason island), a short distance off Carna, shortly before 6 pm on Thursday. Mr McLoughlin had been sailing with his wife, Bernadette.
An extensive air-sea search was initiated by the Irish Coast Guard, involving RNLI lifeboats from Aran and Clifden, the Irish Coast Guard Shannon-based helicopter, Cleggan Coast Guard, local fishing vessels, divers and volunteers walking the shoreline.
RNLI Clifden lifeboat coxswain James Mullen paid tribute on RTÉ to the number of people who had turned out to help, including fishing vessels and shore searchers, and said the response was a testament to the generosity of the local community.
The search effort focused on a coastal area from Oileán Mhic Dara (MacDara’s island) to Ceann Mhása ( Mace Head).
Southwesterly winds made conditions more challenging for those involved on Friday.
