The manager of Kenmare Mart has made an emotional plea for information on a Kerry farmer who has now been missing for over two weeks.

Michael Gaine, who is also known as Mike, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare, on Friday (March 21).

The 56-year-old sheep and suckler farmer was last seen in Kenmare town, on Thursday, March 20.

Dan McCarthy, who is also an independent Kerry county councillor, told Agriland that there is a "cloud hanging over the community".

"People are seriously concerned and worried for Mike's welfare at this stage. Their thoughts and prayers are still with his wife, sisters and extended family for his safe return.

"The amount of work that has been put into locating Mike is absolutely unreal," he said.

McCarthy said it was an emotional day for him at the rostrum at Kenmare Mart yesterday (Thursday, April 3) as his neighbour and friend Mike Gaine was not there when eight of his cattle were sold.

"Lots of farmers like to be there in the box to sell them, but Mike wasn't there. Mike would have been in the box when he was selling his animals.

"They were weanlings, last year's calves. They were lovely cattle, well done by him as you'd expect by Mike. They were good quality cattle," he said.

McCarthy said that there are currently no plans to sell any more of Mike Gaine's animals.

During the sale, the mart manager made an appeal for help to find the missing farmer and bring him back to his family.

He urged anyone who saw anything in the area at the time to get in contact with gardaí.

"Anyone that travelled the Moll's Gap road two weeks ago, no matter how small or how big, if they saw something just let the gardaí know because every bit of a clue is vital at this stage," he said.

Michael bought phone credit in Centra, Kenmare at 9:48a.m on Thursday, March 20.

He then left in his bronze-coloured Toyota RAV4, registration 152 KY 366. This vehicle was found parked in his farmyard, just off the N71 at Carrig East.

Since then, extensive searches in the local area have been carried out by gardaí, state and voluntary agencies, and members of the public.

The Garda Water Unit has also undertaken search operations at local lakes and a quarry.

Gardaí conducted number of checkpoints in the Kenmare area to speak with local people in a bid to gather more information about the missing man.

Searches have been carried out at Michael’s farmyard and in the immediate area, and it is understood that slurry tanks at the farm were drained as part of the search.

On Tuesday (April 1) members of the Defence Forces joined the search operation for the missing Kerry farmer.

Up to 50 members combined from the 12th Infantry Battalion, Limerick and the 3rd Infantry Battalion, Kilkenny are helping gardaí in searches on open lands.

“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,” a garda spokesperson said.

Dan McCarthy acknowledged that "every effort" is being made to find Mike.

"The terrain is so rough and so vast that it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Hopefully, with luck he will be found," he said.

Gardaí continue to want to speak to any person who travelled on the N71 on Thursday, March, 20 after 09:48a.m.

They have also appealed to anyone who may have any camera footage, including dashcam or CCTV, or any other images (video or still) from Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21 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.