The family of a woman whose body went undiscovered for three-and-a-half years almost stumbled across her during the early days of a search following her disappearance, an inquest heard yesterday.

GARDAÍ say a missing woman, whose skeletal remains are believed to have been found on Wednesday, most likely died after falling into a hollow as she walked home in August 2007.

The US shuttle Discovery finally blasted off into space today, taking British-born astronaut Piers Sellers with it.

Diarmuid O'Flynn meets Liam Doyle, the Clare wing-back, and Michael Cleary a sharp-shooting wing-forward for Tipperary.