A body believed to be that of a 19-year-old woman who was swept out to sea three days ago was recovered yesterday off the coast of Co Clare.
An extensive air, sea and shoreline search for the woman, named locally as Ms Clare Ryan, from Blarney, Co Cork, was called off at 3.45 p.m. yesterday after the discovery. The body was removed to Ennis General Hospital, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out today.
Ms Ryan had been visiting relatives in the area last Tuesday and was with two friends when she was swept from a cliff by a freak wave near the Pollock Holes outside Kilkee shortly after 4 p.m.
The recovery of the body followed an extensive three-day search by the Shannon-based rescue helicopter of the Irish Marine Emergency Service, coastal units from IMES and gardai.
About 100 local people, including family members and friends of Ms Ryan, participated in the search, which was hampered by gale-force winds, rough seas and poor visibility.