THREE fishermen are feared drowned in Waterford and a search is continuing along the Connemara coast for a missing boatman.
A major air, sea and land search was under way last night for two fishermen after the body of a third was taken from the sea near Brownstone Head, near Dunmore East. Worsening weather conditions hampered the search.
The local fishing community was in shock following the sudden sinking of the local trawler, the 40 foot Jenalisa.
The alarm was raised shortly after 6 p.m. when the body of a man in his mid 20s, Mr Conor O'Grady from Annestown, was seen in the water by a passing trawler, the Atlantic Warrior. His body was brought to Waterford Regional Hospital, where a post mortem will be carried out.
The search began immediately, with more than 30 trawlers taking part. The Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay lifeboats were launched, as was the Sikorski rescue helicopter from Shannon.
The search for the other two crew members continued through the night. They are the vessel's skipper owner, Mr Peter Nolan, believed to be in his 40s, and Mr Niall Power (25), both from Dunmore East.
Fishing communities of the south east suffered another drowning tragedy in early December. Edmond Fitzgerald and his cousin, Paul Dunne, from Ardmore, Co Waterford, drowned when they got into difficulties in a 21 foot open fibreglass boat.
Meanwhile, the search for a missing man along the Connemara coastline near Roundstone, Co Galway, will resume today. Mr Jimmy MacDonagh (30) was last seen in Roundstone on Friday shortly before he set out in his currach to travel to the village of Letterdyse, a 10 minute journey by sea.