THE TWO Connemara men who lost their lives at sea this week were buried yesterday.
Members of Clifden Lifeboat formed a guard of honour as the two hearses left the church and travelled across the strand to Omey Island for burial.
Féichín Mulkerrin (49) and Tony Coohill (36), from Claddaghduff, Co Galway, were laid to rest on Omey Island, not far from where they drowned on Tuesday when their currach was overturned by a freak wave.
Hundreds of mourners attended their funeral Mass in Star of the Sea Church, Claddaghduff. The congregation spilled over into the car park and on to the road. Members of the fishing community from Galway, Donegal, Mayo, Kerry and Cork, along with mourners from offshore islands such as Aran and Inishbofin, also travelled to the tiny village on the edge of the Atlantic to pay their respects.
Fr Tony Neville said the community had been in shock since news emerged on Tuesday morning that the men had drowned. A deep cloud had descended on the community, extending to the fishing community throughout the country.
Prayers were said for the families of the two men and for all the fishing communities around the country who had lost people at sea. “Our hearts go out to the two families on their terrible loss.”
Fr Neville praised the community effort since the tragedy. “Everybody stopped what they were doing when the terrible news broke and since then there had been a tremendous Meitheal as the community came together to help.”
Both fishermen had lost brothers to the sea. The latest tragedy struck the families after the two men went out in their motorised currach to check on lobster pots.
An investigation has been launched by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board.
Mr Mulkerrin is survived by his wife Monica, six children and grandchildren. Mr Coohill is survived by his wife Marie and sons John and Ciarán.