Missing Persons Day takes place on the first Wednesday in December each year, and a number of Waterford people, or people connected to the area are being remembered today.
The day commemorates those who have gone missing and recognises the lasting trauma for their families and friends. It also draws attention to open or unsolved missing persons cases, and creates an opportunity to provide information on available support services.
A virtual ceremony will be streamed at 11am today through the Department of Justice website.
Through its website, the National Missing Persons Helpline documents people from every county in Ireland, who are missing. The website is run in conjunction with the Department of Justice.
Missing people from, or connected to Waterford
Imelda Keenan
Imelda Keenan is missing since 3rd January 1994. She was 22 years old at that time.
Imelda was originally from Mountmellick, Co. Laois but had been staying in rented accommodation at Lombard Street, Waterford, at the time she went missing.
She is described as 5'3'' tall, of thin build, with long brown hair and blue eyes.
An appeal for information was issued in March 2021, on Imelda's 50th birthday. More here.
Sean Walsh
Sean, a biomedical engineer from Dungarvan Ireland, was 26 years old, when he disappeared from the suburbs of Sydney Australia on May 10th 2009. He was last seen by his flatmates in Randwick at 3am that morning.
He's 5ft 10, with short brown hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a dark green hoodie at the time of his disappearance. Sean, who was in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, was due to fly home on May 12th, and the alarm was raised when he failed to turn up at the airport.
Gerard Seward
23 year old Gerard from Ardmore was last seen at on the morning of Sunday 27th January, 2002, in Tallow, Co. Waterford.
His car was later discovered at Ballyquin Beach, Ardmore with the engine running. He is described as being 5'10" in height, of stocky build with fair hair. When last seen he was wearing grey trousers, a grey polo neck jumper and a denim jacket.
Shane Curran
Shane Curran was 20 when he went missing from Dunmore East on the 30th December, 1999. He was last seen at 11.00 a.m that morning.
Shane is described as being 6' in height, of thin build, fair complexion with short dark red hair.
John Gear
50 year old John Gear was last seen early Monday morning, 15th January 2014, in the Knockboy area, Waterford, and was reported missing later that evening.
There was an extensive search for John that was centred around the Brownstown Head area of Waterford and involved the local community, but he was not found.
Irish Missing Persons Helpline
Families and friends of missing people can contact 1800 442 552 where trained volunteers can provide emotional assistance.
