79-year-old woman dies in Galway house fire

A 79-year-old woman has died in an overnight house fire at a cottage near Headford in Co Galway.

The fire broke out in the building around three miles outside the town at 2.30am.

Three occupants escaped unhurt, but the woman’s body was found during a subsequent search of the smouldering ruins.

The cause of the fire is unknown and the scene has been preserved for forensic examination later today.