Tributes paid to Tipperary man who died on Carrauntoohill in Kerry
John Dunne. Picture: Kerry Mountain Rescue Team/Facebook
Tributes have been paid to a Tipperary climber after his remains were found on Carrauntoohil mountain in Co Kerry on Friday morning.
61-year-old John Dunne, who was head chef at the Horse &Jockey Hotel near Thurles, was described by his colleagues "as a rock" and "kept us all going through the hard times".
Mr Dunne, who was an experienced walker, failed to return to his accommodation after climbing Carrauntoohil on Wednesday.
The Thurles native, who was a married father of one, made contact with the B&B he was to stay at that evening, to say he would be at the Lisleibane car park in an hour, but he failed to turn up. The alarm was raised, and a search began at half past four on Thursday morning.
Kerry Mountain Rescue, along with a drone team, search dogs and the Iveragh Coast Guard resumed the search for Mr Dunne this morning; a body was found a short time later.
An Garda Síochána confirmed the search has been stood down and thanked Kerry Mountain Rescue, those who assisted with the search, the media and public for their assistance.
Paying tribute to John, the Horse and Jockey Hotel near Thurles where John was head chef, wrote: "Rest in Peace to the most legendary head chef, friend & leader. Thank you for being our rock, for keeping us all going during the hard times, for the fun and laughter. After 35 years we cannot believe that you are gone, Jockey life will never be the same. Our thoughts are with Mary & Eoin during this incredibly difficult time."
Mr Dunne’s nephew has said it is a “tragic day” for the family as they gathered at the place his uncle often frequented.
"John, as a man, loved nature. He came here three or four times a year with his friend and he was very familiar with these hills.
"He walked very regularly. It was a second home to him and he found peace here," Donnacha Dunne told RTÉ.
He also described the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team as "an incredible bunch of people" and thanked them for their professionalism and how they treated the family.
Donnacha thanked friends and family at home in Tipperary and all those who travelled to Kerry to support them.
Kerry Mountain Rescue also offered its condolences to people who knew John Dunne.
Colm Burke, Public Relations Officer, thanked all those that assisted with the search, including locals, Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 117, the Iveragh Coast Guard's drone team, Southeast Mountain Rescue and members from the Search and Rescue Dog Association.
The Waterford-based Rescue 117 was also involved in the search operation.
A mountain climber has been reported as missing after failing to return to his Co Kerry accommodation on Wednesday night.
Kerry Mountain Rescue Team is appealing to anyone who may have seen John Dunne from Tipperary on the mountain on Wednesday or Thursday morning to contact Killarney Gardaí.
The search operation is being coordinated by Kerry Mountain Rescue team and local volunteers who are searching the slopes of Carrauntoohill.
The Waterford-based Rescue 117 helicopter conducted a search for the missing climber last night.
In a statement, the Department of Transport said: "The Coast Guard is assisting An Garda Síochána in a search for a person reported missing in Carrauntoohil Mountains, Co Kerry.
"An overnight search was conducted by a Coast Guard helicopter. Kerry Mountain Rescue are also participating in the ongoing search."
This is the second major search and rescue operation the Coast Guard has conducted in a 24-hour period as on Wednesday morning, a fishing vessel which lost power and caught fire sunk off the West Cork coast.
Some 11 crew members were rescued off the UK-registered Piedras fishing vessel and there were no reports of injuries.
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