An intensive search over a wide area was under way in north Kerry and west Limerick yesterday for a teenager missing for 10 days.
Mr Ricky Loughnane (18), from Meenahela, Abbeyfeale, was described by gardaí as extremely fit with a positive attitude to life.
Up to 100 locals joined several water rescue teams including Ballybunion Sea Cliff and Rescue, Killarney Water Rescue, and Bunratty Sea Rescue to comb the Feale and Allaghaun rivers.
Some 30 people on horseback accompanied by dogs were searching forestry in the Mullaghareirk Mountains.
Garda Stephen Brew of Abbeyfeale - who is leading the search - appealed to all landowners in the area to check their land and examine any streams or rivers on their property. Mr Loughnane was last seen in the early hours of December 19th after a taxi dropped him about at his home after a night out in Abbeyfeale.
He had left his home at 9 p.m. and returned at 3.30 a.m. after the night out with friends.
There were two sightings of the teenager after this, the last at around 4 a.m. He was lightly dressed and wore only a black T-shirt and jeans. He is clean shaven, and is 5 feet 8 inches in height.
Fostered from the age of two by the Healy family, Mr Loughnane was due to put up the Christmas decorations with his foster mother, Ms Norma Healy, on Sunday and to go Christmas shopping with the family.
His foster father, Mr Pat Healy, has said he was on top of the world and his going missing was totally uncharacteristic.