The nephew of a man found dead in the MacGillycuddy Reeks has said it is a "tragic day" for the family.
John Dunne, 61, from Tipperary, was reported missing earlier in the week.
The alarm was raised at approximately 11pm on Wednesday when he did not return to his accommodation.
His body was found this morning following an extensive ground and air search by members of the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team.
Speaking after the discovery, Donnacha Dunne said: "We're here under very tragic circumstances. In this beautiful part of the world - a very tragic day."
He said his uncle regularly visited the area.
"John, as a man, loved nature. He came here three or four times a year with his friend and he was very familiar with these hills.
"He walked very regularly. It was a second home to him and he found peace here," he said.
Donnacha Dunne said the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team was "an incredible bunch of people" and thanked them for their professionalism and how they treated the friends and family.
He also thanked friends and family at home and all those who travelled to Kerry to support them.
"It is incredibly difficult, I can't put it into words. All we can say is we can thank everybody from the bottom of our hearts," he said.
Kerry Mountain Rescue offered its condolences to the family and friends of John Dunne.
Colm Burke, Public Relations Officer with Kerry Mountain Rescue, also thanked all those that assisted with the search, including Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 117, the Iveragh Coast Guard's drone team, Southeast Mountain Rescue, members from the Search and Rescue Dog Association, and locals around Lisleibane.
Mr Burke said rescuers knew Mr Dunne had set off "to do a few peaks" but were initially unsure of his exact whereabouts, basing the search around his last known location in the western Reeks.
Following media reports featuring his photograph, rescuers were contacted last night by separate walking parties who had spotted Mr Dunne on his travels on Wednesday at different times on Carrauntoohil and Cnoc na Toinne.
This information was used to establish a timeframe and a direction of travel for Mr Dunne.
As searching restarted at 5.30am this morning, they were able to narrow the search to the eastern Reeks.
Mr Dunne's body was subsequently found at the back of Lough Cummeenapeasta near steep ground around Knocknapeasta.
After being stretchered away, the body was removed for formal identification.
