Jeremiah Downing.
Sinead Kelleher and Fergus Dennehy
KerrymanToday at 15:54
The body of Jeremiah Downing has been discovered on his farm just outside the village of Sneem.
More than 100 people took part in the extensive search for missing Mr Downing after he was reported missing on New Year’s Day.
Search teams includes friends and family from the village along with people from nearby Kennmare, Castlecove and Caherdaniel.
The around 60 locals were assisted by Iveragh Coastguard and Kerry Civil Defence who had more than 20 volunteers out searching the region this morning.
Gardaí were also been drafted into to help in the search as they sought assistance from the public on the whereabouts of the 72-year old local man who lives in the village but farms just outside it.
Jeremiah Downing.
Today’s News in 90 Seconds , Friday Januaray 2, 2026.
Drones were used to assist volunteers in somewhat difficult terrain with no proper paths and his body was located on his farmat Drimnabeg, just at the edge of the village.
This is difficult terrain and there were fears that he may have fallen while checking his animals.
His family have expressed concerns particularly as he suffered a medical incident in recent weeks.
Some of the search party members also focused on the approach roads to Sneem village particularly the Castlecove road as Mr Downing would frequent Castlecove often travelling on the Locallink service.
Gardaí also asked local drivers for Dashcam footage and requested that farmers checked their sheds.
Jeremiah was reportedly last seen on the N70 road between Castlecove and Sneem at approximately 5pm on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
Local TD Michael Healy-Rae expressed his sympathy to the family.
He praised the volunteers who searched the area to ‘diligently’ in the hope Mr Downing and helped locate his body.