A search was under way tonight for a lone fisherman missing off the south west coast.
Coastguard units were joined by an Irish Navy vessel and local sailors in the hunt for the man, in his 50s, who set sail last night.
The boat has been located but no one was on board.
Weather conditions were said to be good in Kenmare Bay, County Kerry, where the search for the 20-foot single engine pleasure craft is concentrated.
The news of the search will be a further blow to Ireland's fishing and sailing communities on a day that four people, including three generations of one family, were buried in County Wexford after they drowned when their fishing boat sank on Sunday.
Coastguard spokesman Tom McLoughlin said: "We understand that the man went out yesterday evening on a pleasure craft sometime around 7.30. Apparently he was on his own in the boat."
Mr McLoughlin said an Irish Navy vessel, the LE Ciara, with divers on board, was also on route to the search site between Dinish Ireland and Templenoe Point.
In-shore rescue units were scouring the sea in the area.
"Conditions are described as very good. They are calm and there is good visibility so they are not hampering the search in any way," Mr McLoughlin said.
He added: "The coastguard will intend to keep the search going while there is light. There are a number of local boats as well as the Castletown Bere lifeboat which is commanding on the scene.
"There are local coastguard units and in-shore rescue from Derrynane and a number of local boats are involved in the search."