A grieving Irishwoman drowned on Friday afternoon while scattering her sister's ashes into the stormy sea.

The woman, who is believed to be in her 40s, and a male companion were on a cliff path at Ballyconneely on the Connemara coast when she either slipped or was swept into the sea.

Strong winds were blowing at the time and the woman, whose name has not yet been released, drowned.

Her body later washed up on the shore a short distance away.