‘A bleak day for the community’ – Tributes paid to beloved Galway fisherman

Tributes are being paid to a much-loved Galway fisherman who was recovered from the water in what has been called an “awful blow for everybody”.

Inishbofin island local John Burke passed away just a short distance from home shores. His boat, which had not returned for two days, was found overturned close to the north shore of Inishbofin Island.

Rescue teams discovered John’s body close to Cloonamore, Inishbofin after they received a callout at around 12:20am on Thursday 4 July. Malin Head Coast Guard then dispatched a helicopter and John’s remains were lifted to Inishbofin Airfield before being taken to Clifden in the early hours of the morning.

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Tributes are being paid from locals who praised the “well respected” John as a “gentleman” calling his death an “awful blow to everybody”.

Connemara North councillor Gerry King told Galway Beo: “Like the whole community, I’m very saddened and shocked to hear of John’s passing. I would have known John and his family for a few years. He was a gentleman to deal with and to work with. John was very involved in the fishing community there and the farming community on the island, he would be very well respected. It’s a bleak day for the community when you get this news. My thoughts go out to the Burke family.”

Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cuív also told Galway Beo: “It’s a tragedy for all the people of Inishbofin, it’s a very close-knit community. This is totally unexpected and an awful blow for everybody, but particularly to the family”.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: “Gardaí in Letterfrack assisted the Coastguard and RNLI in a search and recovery operation in Inishbofin, Galway.

“The body of a man, aged in his late 50s, was recovered from the water in the early hours of this morning, Thursday 4 July, 2024. It has since been removed to the mortuary in University Hospital Galway where a post mortem will take place in due course. A file will be prepared for the Coroner’s Court.”

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