Emergency services were tasked to Kinvara, Co Galway this evening (Thurs 18, August) when a car left the pier and tumbled into the sea.

No one was in the vehicle at the time, and it is believed the Volkswagen may have rolled off the pier accidentally.

Members of the local fire brigade unit and Gardaí were at the scene shortly after the incident, which occurred after 6 pm, and they established that the car was empty. Arrangements were made to lift it out.

The south Galway village has been busy all week after the annual Cruinniú na mBád festival of traditional craft last weekend.

Mr Michael Burke, owner of the Pier Head bar and restaurant in Kinvara, said it was fortunate that no one was hurt in the incident.

A retired priest, Fr Tony Minniter, died in late October 2019 after his car went into the water off Kinvara pier. The alarm was raised by locals who were out for Hallowe'en at the time, but efforts to save the priest, who was in his late seventies, were unsuccessful.

#GALWAY BAY NEWS - Galway County Council has prohibited the parking of camper vans and yachts on Kinvara Pier "for the purpose of habitation".

The new by-law came into effect last month came following a number of complaints that camper vans and boats were remaining for extended periods in the vicinity of the pier.

However the move does not affect vessels used for "bona file navigation", after the ISA lobbied to protect the interests of visiting boaters wishing to use the pier for overnight stays.