Community prays for lost fishermen

PRAYERS were offered yesterday morning in An Rinn in Co Waterford for skipper Michael Hayes — who lived in the picturesque seaside village — and the rest of the crew.

Described as “one of the finest men you could meet” and an excellent skipper, Mr Hayes and his family were involved in the fishing industry for many years.

Originally from Bunmahon in Co Waterford, Mr Hayes lived in the Gaeltacht area of An Rinn for some years and had become a member of the community as well as the tight-knit fishing and coastal fraternity.

His wife, originally Caitlin Kelly and a native of An Rinn, became the first female skipper of an Irish fishing vessel.

Michael’s own family are the proprietors of Hayes’s pub in Bunmahon. His brother, Tom Hayes is a garda superintendent in West Cork.

Family members made their way to the Cork fishing port yesterday after news broke early yesterday morning about the vessel.

A friend and former associate of Michael Hayes said the community are finding it difficult to take in the news about his boat.