One of Castletownbere’s most respected citizens has died in a tragic fishing accident — the second fishing fatality on the Beara peninsula in west Cork this week.
Retired school principal Pearse Lyne died yesterday after his boat overturned near Pulleen harbour. Mr Lyne, who was 66, was out pulling lobster pots when the accident occurred.
He was the fifth person to drown in Irish waters this week, and the second in west Cork after local poet John O’Leary died when the boat he was on with his son Christopher capsized on Monday.
The alarm was raised yesterday when a man walking at Garranes near the Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Retreat Centre saw that a boat was overturned in the water nearby.
Castletownbere RNLI was immediately dispatched and the body of Mr Lyne, a former principal of Castletownbere national school, was located about 3pm near Pulleen harbour, which is three kilometres from Castletownbere pier.
Mr Lyne was described as one of the most beloved and respected of his community.
Paul Stevens, RNLI spokesperson and principal of Scoil an Chroí Ró Naofa, said Mr Lyne was a a gifted teacher who had been involved in the education of generations.