RTÉ programme renews focus on disappearance of Donegal man

THE mother of a man who has been missing from Donegal for more than five years says she draws hope from knowing that people are still keeping an eye out for her son.

Anthea Langelaan made her comments after the disappearance of her son Cian came back into focus at the weekend after an RTÉ One viewer claimed they spotted someone who looked like him on a television show.

Cian, who has been missing for over five years, vanished from the Falcarragh area on September 24, 2020.

Following his disappearance, a ‘Find Cian’ community group was set up on social media to aid searches and possible sightings of the Donegal man.

However, he was never located.

In 2023 newly released information that Cian may have boarded a bus in Dunfanaghy, which was travelling through Sligo and onto Galway, renewed hope and led to search efforts being extended further afield.

However, in recent days, a member of the public sparked much discussion online after they claimed to have spotted someone who looks like the missing man on a TV show.

Posting on the ‘Find Cian’ group, the member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “There is a programme on RTÉ One at the moment, Saturday, November 8, 4.50pm, called ‘Build Your Own Home’.

“There is a young man on there called Cian who has been homeless for years.

“He is very like him, might be worth checking out.”

Another member of the public agreed with the claim and said: “It never dawned on me, but they are actually very alike”.

However, others quickly dismissed the claims, insisting it was not him.

The show tells the story of a man called Cian, who was once homeless but purchased a derelict cottage in Sligo with the help of fundraising efforts.

Speaking to the Donegal News this week, Cian’s mother Anthea confirmed the man on the show is not her son.

However, she said it was good to hear a story of a young man, in a similar situation to her son, turning his life around.

She added that the continued support from others helps her “not to lose hope”.

“I shed tears every time there is a possible sighting of Cian,” Anthea told the Donegal News.

“It is still as raw and as heart-wrenching as it was in 2020 when he went missing.

“How could it not be for any mother going through this?

“However, I am equally grateful that people are keeping Cian and myself in their hearts and report any possible sightings and also that the media do not regard his disappearance as old news.

“It means so much.”

On the fifth anniversary of his disappearance, a fresh appeal for information was issued.

The appeal read: “Cian Langelaan was 27-years-old when he went missing on Thursday, September 24, 2020 from the Falcarragh area of Donegal in Ireland.

“Described as 5ft 8in in height and of medium build, Cian has sandyauburn hair, blue-grey eyes and was clean shaven at the time of his disappearance.

“He was wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and black boots.

“If anyone has information, contact Milford Garda Station on ‪074-9153060, phone the Garda Confidential line on ‪1800 666 111 or Crimestoppers (Ireland) on 1800 250 025.”