John Kennelly from Listowel, Co Kerry, mysteriously disappeared in the French capital last weekend after attending a trade fair with his wife and two adult children.

He has not been seen since he left the Etoile Meridien Hotel, near the James Joyce pub, for a walk last Sunday morning. The 47-year-old was due to fly back to Cork that afternoon and before leaving the hotel for a stroll he told his wife that he would be back at the hotel by 10am.

He had a small rucksack containing a number of books and his passport with him at the time. His wife and two adult children alerted French police when he did not return home.

"John was on daily medication for a blood pressure ailment, and the possible side effects of this medication include temporary memory loss, " Louis McDonagh, the family's solicitor, told the Sunday Tribune.

The Kennelly family are now worried that John may run out of medication. He recently suffered headaches and was inclined to forget.

Fine Gael TD for Kerry North and close family friend Jimmy Deenihan was in Paris for the last few days helping the distraught family look for their missing husband and father.

"Hopefully there will be a positive outcome to all of this and John will be found alive and well, " he said.

The Irish Embassy in Paris and the French police are also working closely with the family as their search effort continues.

Kennelly is the owner of Kennelly Travel in Listowel and is well-known in North Kerry. He is involved in Listowel Emmets GAA club.

It is understood the club are planning to have a special meeting in the coming days to see what they can do to help with the search effort.