Northern Ireland

Funeral in Belfast to be held for Kayaker who died off Co Waterford coast

Francis Martin had been reported missing after failing to return last Monday

Francis Martin, who died while kayaking in Co Waterford last Monday.
Francis Martin, who died while kayaking in Co Waterford last Monday.

The funeral will take place on Saturday of a Co Fermanagh man who died while kayaking off the coast of Co Waterford.

Francis Martin, who was in his 60s, had been reported missing after setting out in a kayak last Monday morning at Helvick, near Waterford’s Dungarvan area.

The father-of-two, who is originally from Enniskillen but lived in Belfast’s Ravenhill Road area, is understood to have been visiting the area with family.

When he failed to return, the alarm was raised later that afternoon and a search and rescue operation swung into action.

Led by the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Dublin, the search involved the Irish Coast Guard, an Irish navy patrol vessel, and the RNLI.

The Coast Guard said a body was recovered by a navy vessel on Tuesday morning and brought to shore at Dungarvan pier.



Both the Coast Guard and the RNLI offered condolences to the family of the deceased.

A death notice for Mr Martin said he died “suddenly as a result of an accident”.

He is described as the “beloved husband of Miriam and loving father of Emma and Katie. Brother of Anne, Maura, Helen, Jimmy, Sean and Margo”.

A funeral will take place at Ormeau Road’s Good Shepherd Church on Saturday, followed by a burial service at Lordship Cemetery in Piedmont, Co Louth.