Community shaken by boating accident

A tightly-knit community was united in grief last week following the tragic death in a boating accident of a 44-year-old “larger than life” local painting contractor.
Pat Danaher, who lived at Nancy’s Well, Ogonnelloe but originally came from Ballinacurra Gardens, died after his 20ft speedboat ran aground on rocks and capsized last Thursday. His funeral took place on Tuesday.
Ogonnelloe Parish Priest, Fr Donagh O’Meara, described Mr Danaher as a great character who was well known and liked in the community.
“Pat Danaher was a great character. He was larger than life in every way and was good fun to be with. It is a terrible loss to lose a man, who is just 44, in the prime of his life. It is an awful thing to happen for his wife and family, considering he is leaving three young children behind him.
“The whole community was shocked by the suddenness of his death on the lake without any warning.
“People in Ogonnelloe are great to provide support to people. There was a huge outpouring of sympathy for the family and I know people will all rally around Pauline and the children and Pat’s own family at this terrible time,” he said.
The alarm was raised around 9.30pm last Thursday night when the boat was spotted upturned and a multi-agency search was lauched involving Mountshannon Search and Rescue, Civil Defence, Coast Guard, RNLI and the search and rescue helicopter.
Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was called at 9.19pm to investigate a vessel upturned in Youghal Bay, close to Garrykennedy. At 9.34pm, the lifeboat launched with Helm Peter Clarke, Colin Knight and David Moore on board. Winds were south-westerly, Force Two, and visibility was good but failing quickly with nightfall.
At 9.50pm the lifeboat was alongside the upturned vessel, a 20ft speedboat. It was reported to have extensive damage to the outdrive and propellers. The lifeboat began a search of the area.
Meanwhile, the Killaloe Coast Guard unit launched from their base and the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter took off from its base at Shannon to assist in the search.
Lifeboat crew, committee members and volunteers set off in teams to search the shoreline. There were no reports of anyone overdue and attempts continued to discover who might own the boat. An extensive search of the water and shoreline didn’t reveal anything. The speedboat was taken to Garrykennedy where it was investigated by garda specialists.
The massive search involved the volunteer members of the RNLI, Coast Guard, Civil Defence, Mountshannon Search and Rescue and Killaloe/Ballina Search and Recovery Unit, whose members located Mr Danaher’s body.
RNLI Lifeboat operations manager, Charles Stanley Smith thanked everyone for their assistance on the search saying he was “extremely pleased with the level of co-operation by all of the emergency services on the lake, as well as offers of help from the public”.
Mr Danaher’s body was removed to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem was carried out.
His remains reposed at his residence on Monday before a private removal on Tuesday for requiem mass in St Mary’s Old Church, Ogonnelloe at 11am, followed by private cremation in Cork.
He is survived by his wife, Pauline, and young children Rachel, (6) Laura (3) and Leo (four months).
He is also survived by his parents, Bridie and Rody, who used to run the post office in Ogonnelloe before it closed down a number of years ago and sisters Monique, Samantha, Sonia and Natasha.