A well-known poet and boatmaker from west Kerry had died after the boat in which he was crewing overturned off the northwest coast of Spain.

Danny Sheehy, also known as Danny an tSíthigh or Domhnall Mac Síthigh, was thrown into the water along with three others yesterday when their naomhóg overturned.

The incident happened at the mouth of the river Minho, which delineates the border between Spain and northern Portugal.

The four managed to make it to shore where emergency services aided them but it is understood Mr Sheehy was taken ill and died.

The other members of the crew included lead singer of the Hothouse Flowers Liam Ó Maonlaí, musician Brendán Ó Beaglaíoch, and Padraig Ó Duinnín.

They were taken to the local hospital for treatment but are understood not to have sustained serious injury.

The four had been rowing south along the Galician coast for the last two weeks when the accident occurred.

Mr Sheehy had taken part in a number of sea voyages by naomhóg, which is a Kerry-style currach.

He recently featured in a TG4 documentary called Camino an tSáile, in which he travelled to Spain by naomhóg before taking part in the Camino de Santiago

He also made regular appearance on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and RTÉ Radio 1.