The family of Máire Ní Fhatharta who has been missing since she went swimming in Galway Bay a week ago have said they are overwhelmed by the community response.
Organisers of the continued search said yesterday on social media that day 8 and 9 are “critical”, and have appealed to volunteers to “wrap up well, stay hydrated and wear the appropriate clothing”.
Wednesday’s low tide shore search resumes at 1300, and those who have not been given a shore search zone are advised to meet at Barna church today at 12.45 where they will be assigned a group.
The search in the Carraroe area of south Connemara meets at Halla Éinne at 12 noon today.
An Oranmore search is meeting at Galway Bay Sailing Club, Rinville, at 12.30 today, and the Kinvara search will assemble at Kinvara pier at the same time.
A GoFundMe appeal, Bring Máire Home, has raised over 96,000 euro, which will go towards paying the fuel cost of many vessels which have been at sea for the past eight days, along with search equipment.
“Any excess funds that are received will be donated to voluntary organisations that have been assisting us in this search,”the organisers have said on Instagram.
Ms Ní Fhátharta (32) was reported missing from Silverstrand beach near Barna last Tuesday, hours after songwriter Johnny Duhan also died that same morning. Conditions were very foggy and both swimmers may have become disorientated and developed hypothermia very rapidly.
Mr Duhan’s body was recovered from the water hours later.
Ms Ní Fhatharta had been working with Foram Chois Fharraige as an Irish language planning officer since August 2024, and the alarm was raised when she didn't arrive for work last Tuesday.
Máire's sisters, Maighréad and Fionnuala, said they are not going to give up searching for her until she is found, and thanked all those who have supported them on sea and land.
On RTÉ's News at One on Monday, Fionnuala said the response the family has received has been "absolutely unbelievable".
She said people had flown home from as far away as Australia to assist, and the numbers of people out on searches had kept the family going.
"Hopefully we will get a result very very soon ... without the people, we wouldn't be able to keep the faith and the hope as we have until now," she said.
Maighréad described her sister as “the kindest, funniest and most special person I’ve ever known, and probably will ever know”.
“She was the best sister and friend, and partner to Dan, and we’re all very lucky to have known her”she said.
"It’s going to be very difficult for us to move on from this, but we'd just like to thank our friends and families, and the thousands of people who have shown up in any way for Máire,”she said.
"I think everyone would agree that she was just a very different person, and we’re all very blessed to have known her".
The sisters estimated that up to 600 people ashore and at least 100 boats, including inshore fishing vessels, angling boats, sailing club safety boats, kayaks and stand up paddleboards, along with divers, have been out every day since Tuesday November 12th.
"Every single thing that people are doing is helping us," Fionnuala said.
“The current circumstances have shown an overwhelming sense of community and we can’t find the words to begin to thank everyone for their efforts so far. We want to do all we can to help to continue the search with the funds raised from this GoFundMe, “the family have said on Instagram.“Your kindness and support mean the world to us, and we are deeply grateful for anything you can give,”they have said.
“All of your efforts have not gone unnoticed and we plead that you help us, the services and volunteers to keep going until we Bring Máire Home.”
Details of the search are on social media under “Bring Máire Home”, and the GoFundMe page is here
