A body has been recovered during the air and sea search for the Connemara man missing off the Galway coast.
The body was located in the water just after midday off the northern shore of Macdara island, near Mace Head. Earlier, an empty currach was located close to the Aran island of Inis Mór.
Gerry Folan (43), was an experienced seaman and trained diver from Carna, who was married with grown up children. He was last seen rowing a 5.5m (18ft) currach from the Mace Head area of Co Galway at about 5pm yesterday.
Valentia Coast Guard tasked the Irish Coast Guard Sikorksy helicopters from Shannon and Sligo, the RNLI Aran lifeboat and an Air Corps Casa maritime patrol aircraft after the alert was raised last night. The search resumed at first light this morning.
Mace Head in Co Galway
A RNLI spokeswoman said conditions for searching overnight were good, with a slight swell.
Mr Folan had been involved in the attempted rescue of two brothers in Galway Bay three years ago.
He jumped into the sea to try to rescue renowned sailor Johnny Sheain Jeaic MacDonncha who drowned after his traditional hooker was hit by a strong gust of wind on September 5th, 2009.
His brother, Josie Sheain Jeaic MacDonncha (66), was pulled from the water.
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