A body has been recovered from the sea in Co Clare this afternoon, writes Patrick Flynn.

The discovery as made in Kilkee during the search for missing school teacher David McMahon, who was last seen on September 9.

The body was spotted in the water at around 3pm and recovered at about 5.30pm.

The remains, which have not been formally identified, were recovered to the pier in Kilkee.

The body has been removed to University Hospital Limerick for a post mortem examination.

Hundreds of friends and colleagues of the missing man had been involved in co-ordinated searches over the past fortnight.

It was during the search for David that Irish Coast Guard volunteer Caitríona Lucas died tragically on September 12.

Two members of Kilkee Coast Guard were rescued after their boat capsized in rough seas.