Atrocious weather conditions prevented the helicopter recovery of a climber's body on Croagh Patrick in County Mayo.
And the climber who died at the famous pilgrimage site could have been there overnight before his body was discovered.
Gardai have appealed for help to identify the man, whose remains were found on the summit on Friday of last week.
It is believed the victim, aged in his mid-60s, died after a fall. He had several fractures on both legs. A post-mortem examination will be held to determine the cause of death, which is suspected to be hypothermia, or a heart attack.
A coastguard spokesman said weather conditions were so blustery that members of Mayo Mountain Rescue team and gardai had to climb the mountain to recover the remains.
"The helicopter was proceeding to lift gardai to the scene, but because of the weather conditions they had to abort the mission. The weather was horrendous," the spokesman said.
