Man, 50s, dies in incident off Castletownbere Pier

Tragedy struck Castletownbere Pier in West Cork on Saturday when a man in his 50s died after getting into difficulty in the water. The incident occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m., prompting an immediate response from the Valentia Coastguard and the local RNLI all-weather lifeboat. Despite their efforts, the man was recovered from the water in an unresponsive state and pronounced dead at the scene. Gardaí have secured the scene, and the man's body has been transported to Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem examination. A file is also being prepared for the coroner. The death has sent shockwaves through the local community, with the Deputy Mayor of County Cork, Finbarr Harrington, expressing the town's profound sadness. "It's shocking, there is real sadness for the man and his family. People are shocked," Harrington stated. He noted the unusual nature of the tragedy, as it occurred despite calm weather conditions, unlike typical sea-related incidents often associated with storms. The community's thoughts are with the man's family during this difficult time, especially as the town was bustling with activity for the annual Festival of the Sea.

“

It's shocking, there is real sadness for the man and his family. People are shocked.