A cliff and sea rescue was stood down last night after the missing man was found in a nearby pub, totally unaware of the operation that had been launched to find him.

At around 7:30pm, Gardaí contacted the Valentia Coastguard for assistance in the search for a man in his 40s who was thought to be in danger after a concerned taxi driver reported him missing.

The taxi driver had brought the man to Ballybunion in County Kerry and was worried due the line of questioning which had taken place.

A post on the Ballybunion Rescue Facebook Page stated that the taxi driver became worried when the man "enquired as to how to get to the cliffs, and given that it was dark and the weather was bad at the time."

A spokesperson for Valentia Coastguard told Independent.ie: "At around 7:30pm yesterday evening a man was reported missing in and around the ladies' beach area of Ballybunion. The local coast guard was tasked to the area and the helicopter rescue 115 was also called.

"The man was found shortly after safe and well in a nearby pub."

Ballybunion Sea and Rescue and Ballybunion Coast Guard were coordinated to assist the search at 7:37pm.

The man was found at around 8:40pm and was totally unaware of the operation that had just been launched.

The operation was recorded as a false alarm with good intent.

Online Editors