A Dublin teacher is believed to have drowned off the coast of Sonoma in California on Saturday, October 4.

Nuala O'Donohoe, who arrived in California in late September to attend a meditation retreat, is presumed drowned after items of her clothing were found floating in the ocean.

O'Donohoe, 42, disappeared on Saturday afternoon, while she had been apparently meditating at a rocky area know as the Horseshoe Cove when she was washed into the ocean. According to witnesses at the park on the day, the surf was very high, reaching up to 15 feet that afternoon.

Jeremy Stinson, supervising ranger at Sonoma Coast State Park, said that O'Donohoe, who was part of a meditation group that day, was meditating alone as were the others, but not within eyesight of each other.

"She was with a group that had gone for hikes in the area of Salt Point," said Tim Murphy, supervising ranger. "They had discussed meeting at a specific location at 3:30 p.m. When she didn't make that meeting place, the group went looking for her."

Some of O'Donohoe's clothes, shoes and a backpack were discovered on a rock. Murphy said her companions reached Horseshoe Point in time to see her pants wash out to sea.

Days of searching by the U.S. Coast Guard and helicopters failed to locate the Dublin woman's body.

Murphy said they don't know what exactly happened, but believe she was swept off the rocks by a large wave. It is not believed O'Donohoe was suicidal or went into the water swimming.

"A person taking a look at it may think it is a scenic spot, but it is not conducive to making an entry into the water," Murphy said. "The area is so exposed, westerly facing, any kind of inattention, even momentary, could have had a bad result."

O'Donohoe's devastated father Paddy told the Herald newspaper, "What can I say, she's gone and there is no sign of her coming back."

O'Donohoe said it was pointless going to California at this late stage adding however, "There is no finality until her body is found."

O'Donohoe lived minutes from her father's home in Drumcondra in Dublin.

The O'Donohoe family is receiving consular assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Evelyn O'Brien, the principal of St. Brigid's Holy Faith primary school in Glasnevin where O'Donohoe taught, described her colleague as "a real lady."

Said O'Brien, "She was particularly gentle and patient with children. She was very, very kind and was interested in each and every child as an individual. She also made links with their parents and was a great support for her pupils and her teaching colleagues."