Skeletal remains found in undergrowth on Bray Head, Co Wicklow, are believed to be those of pensioner Maura Reynolds who went missing from a nursing home in the town on Christmas Day 2005.
The remains were found yesterday afternoon at a secluded spot off a popular walking route up the northern side of Bray Head.
It had been thought that the elderly woman may have been drowned after disappearing from the nursing home near the seafront.
The area where she was found is less than half a mile from the Tara Care Centre on Putland Road where Ms Reynolds (78) was last seen. The discovery was made by workers tending to hedgerows at around 4pm.
Gardaí said it was too early to say if perished clothing found on the remains matched items Ms Reynolds was wearing when she went missing. However, reliable sources said they believed the remains were those of Ms Reynolds.
Her daughter-in-law Priscilla Reynolds told The Irish Times the family were "hopeful" the remains would be confirmed as those of the missing woman.
"We won't be sure until we go there tomorrow. It's a big shock but we'd be hopeful of getting some closure."
The area was sealed off last night and a preliminary examination was carried out by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
However, because of fading light it was decided to leave the remains at the scene overnight. A full examination is planned for this morning.
The State Pathologist's office has been informed and efforts to determine the cause of death will be made today.
Ms Reynolds has been missing presumed dead since she left the nursing home on the night of Christmas Day 2005, some time after she had returned from a family gathering. Her absence was not noticed until the following morning.
An extensive search was conducted around the Bray seafront and the town for Ms Reynolds, who had Alzheimer's disease and cancer. The searches were called off on January 19th, 2006, while the authorities on the coasts of Wales, Scotland and France were notified of the disappearance in the event of a body being discovered.
Originally from Donegal, Ms Reynolds had lived in Balally Drive in Sandyford, Dublin, before her health deteriorated. She had been a resident at the nursing home for 18 months before her disappearance.
Last November Paul and Anne Costello, the owners of the nursing home, were fined €1,000 each after pleading guilty to failing to ensure that suitable and sufficient care was provided to maintain the welfare and wellbeing of dependent people in the home.