A TEENAGE boy who died in a cliff fall in west Kerry was last night remembered as a talented Gaelic footballer.
Tributes were paid to James Harrison (17) from Salthill in Galway after he lost his life in an accident while out walking with his family on Sunday.
It is understood he lost his footing in the Cinn Árd area of Dingle and tumbled over a steep cliff and into the sea below. It is believed the cliff was more than 30-metres high.
The area is popular with walkers and hikers given its scenic views over Dingle Bay.
Emergency services attended the scene, including the Coast Guard, RNLI, Kerry Mountain and Cliff Rescue and the Shannon-based Rescue 115 Sikorsky helicopter.
The teenager's body was later recovered by Coast Guard units working with the RNLI’s Valentia lifeboat and Dingle volunteers amid challenging terrain at the foot of the cliff.
James, a student at the Jesuit Secondary School Coláiste Iognáid, was a prominent member of Salthill/Knocknacarra GAA club in Galway.
The club posted a tribute photograph of him and wrote: "Everyone from Salthill Knocknacarra GAA club is deeply saddened by the news from Kerry today of the loss of our minor football star James Harrison.
"Our condolences are with Maura, Matthew, Daniel, Aoife, the extended family and all of James' friends at this difficult time."
The teenager also played for Knocknacarra Football Club, which said it was "devastated to hear of the untimely passing of one of our boys, James Harrison, in an accident in Kerry".
His mother Máire is originally from the Dingle area and his uncles include documentary maker Aodh O Coileáin.
His funeral is due to take place at St Ignatius Church in Galway tomorrow followed by burial in Rahoon Cemetery.
James is survived by his parents Máire and Matthew, siblings Daniel and Aoife and wider family circle.
