Imelda May sends 'thoughts and prayers' to cousin Finbarr Clabby who died in New Zealand drowning

The 39-year-old man from Galway was recovered from Wellington Harbour around 10 hours after he was last seen by a friend.

He had been living in New Zealand for a number of years and his body was discovered at 11am on Sunday after enjoying a night out with friends.

The rockabilly singer has since revealed her family connection to the tragic Irishman, writing on Twitter: "Watched the sunset in Istanbul thinking of my poor 2nd cousin Finbarr Clabby and his family.

"Drowned in New Zealand. My thoughts and prayers are with you."

Finbarr's older brother Dan said he was a very popular man who had a wide network of friends in New Zealand.

“The Clabby family feel very comforted by the fact that he had so many loyal friends in New Zealand. By all accounts he had so many friends in New Zealand, there are so many messages coming through on Facebook about him."

"Our shared sudden tragedy is made easier by the compassion shown in sympathetic messages from home and abroad."

“He was very well known in the New Zealand/ Irish community. And he was on a soccer team as well,” Dan said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance to his family.