This article is from page 3 of the 2006-10-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE final hours of three young men who were drowned in Doolin during the October Bank Holiday weekend last year will be recalled at their inquests next week.
Joe O’Callaghan (34) from Tulla, Mick Doran (31), who lived in Broadford, and Martin Griffin (24) from Ennis, disappeared after a night out in Doolin.
Their bodies, and the jeep in which they were travelling, were subsequently found in the local area.
The entire search, co-ordinated by Doolin Coastguard and assisted by hundreds of people, lasted 11 days.
Up to 20 members of Doolin Coastguard were involved in the search, along with other search teams, navy divers, the garda water unit and families and friends of the three men.
The body of popular Ennis man Martin Griffin was washed up the following Tuesday, at Trá Leathan, Doonagore, Doolin.
As the search for the other two bodies intensified, the Naval Service sent sonar equipment to Doolin to search the sea, amid treacherous conditions.
Waterford native Mick Doran’s body was located a week after they disappeared.
Much of the searching was confined to the shoreline, as the seas became increasingly rough.
Mr O’Callaghan’s body was washed up on the 11th day.
All three were found within 100 metres of each other.
Parts of Mr O’Callaghan’s Suzuki Vitara jeep in which they were travelling were washed up throughout the days of the the search.
In the immediate aftermath of it becoming apparent that the men were missing, a Garda appeal was launched.
Superintendent Eamon Dolan, who coordinated the investigation, appealed for anyone who saw the men in Doolin to come forward, in an effort to trace their final movements.
The trio were last seen outside McGann’s public house at 1.30am on Bank Holiday Monday, October 31.
The three were all craftsmen and were known to be hard-working and popular and thoroughly enjoyed their lives. They had worked together on the restoration of Coolreagh House at the East Clare Golf Club in Bodyke.
The sense of grief was palpable not only in Doolin, but also throughout the county, not least in the home towns and villages of the three missing men.