THE arrival of the Defence Forces to Kenmare to aid in the search for missing Michael Gaine has renewed hope in the area, locals have said.
The cow and sheep farmer was last seen on Thursday March 20, 2025 just before 10am.
The 56-year-old was captured on CCTV buying phone credit from Centra in Kenmare town and left in his bronze RAV4.
The vehicle was discovered on Michael’s farmyard just off the N71 at Carrig East, with personal belongings such as his wallet being discovered in the car.
Extensive searches kicked off on March 21 after Michael failed to make contact with family or friends.
And despite checkpoints being put in place across Kenmare as gardai attempted to jog the memory of locals, no trace of Michael has been found.
Now, 50 soldiers from the troops of the 12th Infantry Battalion in Limerick and the 3rd Infantry Battalion in Kilkenny have been deployed to Kerry to help in searches.
In a fresh information appeal Gardai said today the experienced personnel are required to search “rough, open ground and at higher altitude”.
They said: “An Garda Siochana has continued to carry out enquiries in the Kenmare locality and searches continued to be carried out over the weekend supported by other state and voluntary agencies in our ongoing efforts to locate Michael.
“Commencing today, Irish Defence Forces personnel will be assisting An Garda Siochana.
“Up to 50 members combined from the 12th Infantry Battalion, Limerick and the 3rd Infantry Battalion, Kilkenny will assist An Garda Siochana in searches on open lands over the coming days.
“These lands are rough, open ground and at higher altitude and the experience and discipline of trained personnel is appropriate to assist in carrying out these searches.
“An Garda Siochana wishes to thank members of the public who have assisted in searches previously. An Garda Siochana is not requesting the assistance of the general public for further searches, at this time.”
Fine Gael Councillor and Kenmare local Teddy O’Sullivan Casey told The Irish Sun today that while the town is “in bits” the arrival of the Defence Forces has brought a “certain amount of hope”.
He told us: “There would be a certain amount of hope, I suppose.
“That’s all we have to live in at the moment, is hope. We would be very hopeful that it would turn up something.”
Teddy continued: “The town is in bits altogether. Everyone is talking about it of course and wondering what happened.
“It’s very hard at the minute when no answers are coming.”
Slurry tanks on Michael’s farm have been emptied and searched alongside farm outbuildings whilst digs on the land have been carried out.
The Garda Sub Aqua Unit arrived last week to search a number of water locations around Kenmare, Moll’s Gap and the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and a disused quarry just a few kilometres from Michael’s home was also probed.
And boats from Kenmare Pier were out searching over the weekend.
It’s gone on and on now, it’s nearly two weeks now, as every day goes by it gets more concerning”.
Councillor Teddy O’Sullivan Casey
In a fresh appeal today Gardai are appealing to anyone who was travelling on the N71 on Thursday 20 March, after 9.48am to make contact with them.
They are also requesting CCTV, dash-cam footage, videos or images from Moll’s Gap on that same day.
In a new statement a garda spokesperson said: “Gardai continue to appeal to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 56-year-old Michael Gaine who was reported missing from his home near Kenmare, Co. Kerry on Friday 21st March 2025.
“Michael was last seen in Kenmare town on Thursday 20th March 2025.
“Michael bought phone credit in Centra, Kenmare at 9.48am. Michael then left in his bronze coloured RAV4 registration 152 KY 366. This vehicle was found parked in Michael Gaine’s farmyard, just off the N71 at Carrig East.
“Michael’s family have had no contact from him and his family and An Garda Siochana are extremely concerned for his well-being. Michael is described as being approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard.
“When last seen, Michael was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots.”
‘BE VIGILANT’
They added: “Gardai continue to want to speak to any person who travelled on the N71 on Thursday 20th March, after 09:48am and/ or any person who may have any camera footage, including dash-cam or CCTV, or any other images (video or still) from Thursday 20th March and Friday 21st March in the Kenmare town / Moll’s Gap (N71/ R568) area to provide that imagery to the Garda investigation team.
“Anyone with information on Michael’s whereabouts is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
Councillor O’Sullivan Casey echoed the Garda appeal, almost two weeks after Michael was last seen.
He told us today: “The appeal all along was for the dash-cam footage and any other information to be provided to the guards.
“The appeal now, I suppose, would be to keep hoping, hopefully, that something would happen in the next couple of days, that there would be hopefully some developments.
“It’s gone on and on now, it’s nearly two weeks now, as every day goes by it gets more concerning, you know.”
The local man continued his appeal asking the public “just to be vigilant”.
Teddy said: “Even if they do remember something, even two weeks later, to come forward, you know. Even if they don’t think it’s important, it might be important to the guards.”
