A RETIRED school principal who drowned after his boat overturned while he was out pulling lobster pots will be laid to rest in Castletownbere, Co Cork, tomorrow.
Father-of-four Pearse Lyne (66) drowned last Friday when his 17ft punt capsized in Pulleens Harbour, west of Castletownbere. Mr Lyne’s body was recovered close to his upturned boat by Castletownbere Lifeboat at about 3pm on Friday. His death is being treated as a tragic accident.
Mr Lyne was a former principal of Castletownbere National School. His removal will take place today at 7.30pm from Harrington’s Funeral Home, Castletownbere, to the Sacred Heart Church nearby.
His requiem Mass will be held tomorrow at noon, followed by burial in Droum Cemetery. Mourners are asked to make donations to Castletownbere RNLI in lieu of flowers.
Mr Lyne is survived by his wife Evelyn, son Liam and daughters Lorraine, Karina and Janice. Mr Lyne was an experienced part-time fisherman who was also well known in GAA circles.
It is the second such tragedy in Beara in the past week. John O’Leary (58), drowned off Cod’s Head on August 13th.
Mr Lyne became the fifth person to drown in coastal waters off Ireland in a week after other deaths in Mayo and Clare. Michael Galvin (64) and Noel Dickinson, in his late 20s, also drowned on August 13th when their 26ft boat sank off Spanish Point, Co Clare. On August 14th, Martin Burns (51) died in a fishing incident off Co Mayo.
Minister for the Marine Simon Coveney said: “My heart goes out to all of the families who are struggling to deal with the loss of their loved ones.”