TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid to a noted traditional musician who died after falling off a cliff in Co Clare yesterday afternoon.
The alarm was raised at around 3.15pm on Wednesday when emergency services received a report that a person had fallen into the sea from a cliff at Dunlicky, southwest of Kilkee.
It is understood the victim was fishing with another man at the time. A passerby who witnessed the incident called the emergency services.
The victim has been named locally as Darren Richmond (58), who was a native of Lancaster in England but had been living in Ennis for a number of years.
He was a singer, musician and song collector and was well-known on the traditional music circuit.
Locals described the deceased as “a lovely man”.
Paying tribute, the Yellow Submarine Pub in Corofin in County Clare, a venue where Mr Richmond often performed, said: “Darren was a regular at the Sunday session with his bodhrán and his wonderful songs. It’s a ray of the sun that has gone.”
Another friend said: “Shocking news, Darren was a tremendous singer and song collector. May his rest be peaceful.”
Local TD Violet Ann Wynn wrote on social media: “So incredibly sad to read this, may he rest in peace.”
A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí and emergency services attended an incident at Kilkee Cliff Walk in Co. Clare this afternoon. A man aged in his 50s was removed from the water by the Coast Guard. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body has been removed to University Hospital Kerry.”
It is understood that the rescue boat was delayed from launching by a number of people swimming close to the slipway.
Rescue 115 carried out a search of the area and soon located the man and recovered him from the water.
Meanwhile, a second man, believed to have climbed down the rocks to help the casualty, was found stranded on a cliff edge and unable to climb back to safety. He was spotted by the helicopter crew who alerted ground teams. An operation was then mounted to rescue him.
Kilkee Coast Guard volunteers managed to get a rope down to the man and secured him while additional resources were requested to attend.
The man is not believed to have been seriously injured.
The Doolin and Ballybunion units of the Coast Guard were also tasked but stood down en route when it was confirmed that man had been successfully rescued.
Additional reporting by Pat Flynn
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