Arranmore Island, which has a population of around 450 people, is now asking people not to visit them until the end of March.

Up to 1,000 people will this weekend mobilise in an air, sea, and land search for missing R116 helicopter crew members Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith.

The black box from Irish Coast Guard helicopter R116 will be given to British experts today in the hope that they will be able to shed light on what caused Rescue 116 to crash off the coast of Co Mayo.

President Michael D Higgins has stressed the need for the State to protect and sustain the life and culture of Ireland’s islands.