Rough seas off the Co Clare coast over the weekend prevented Garda divers from searching for the vehicle that may contain the bodies of two men who have now been missing for a week.
Yesterday, a shoreline search for the men, Joseph O'Callaghan (34) and Michael Doran (31), was extended from Doolin into Galway Bay. It involved 60 volunteers and members of the Doolin Coastguard Rescue Unit and gardaí.
Mattie Shannon, of the Doolin Coastguard Rescue Unit, confirmed that a "substantial part of the interior of a vehicle, believed to be the missing vehicle" was found yesterday on Doolin beach, 500 metres north of where it plunged into the sea at Doonagore Bay last Monday.
The poor weather prevented divers from searching for the jeep over the weekend and Mr Shannon said it may not be until after Wednesday that conditions will allow divers to enter the waters at Doonagore.
The body of the third man believed to have been in the Suzuki Vitara 4x4, Martin Griffin (24), was recovered last Tuesday.
Mr Griffin was buried at the weekend in Ennis and Fr Gerry Carey told mourners at St Peter and Paul's Cathedral on Saturday that he was conscious of the men who are still missing and prayed for them and for their families.
Fr Carey said: "Accidents like this when they happen leave us numb and in many ways speechless." It is believed the vehicle plunged into the sea between 10am and 10.45am last Monday after rolling over the edge with its engine off.
Fr Carey said it was important to strike a balance between the grief, loss, hurt and all the pain that goes with it and the great memories, stories and achievements of Martin.
"The grief and loss is there for all of us to see, but it is important that it doesn't submerge the picture of Martin who led a packed life," Fr Carey said.
He described him as "a funny guy with a wit and personality, who never took things or indeed himself seriously".
He added that "many of us are only really able to talk to our own people, but Martin had a gift and ability to relate to a cross-section of generations".
"Martin was a man who was gifted and talented and his wood-turning was something that had become legendary and his father, John Joe, spoke a lot about that over the past few days and his creations are something of a lasting memory that we can attach ourselves to."
Fr Carey said Martin's friends were heartbroken at his passing, but were in many ways enriched that they had rubbed shoulders with him.
Meanwhile, a senior Garda has ruled out fencing off the cliff area in which the vehicle plunged 70 feet into the sea.
Garda Chief Supt Liam Quinn said that it would be "an impossible task" to fence off the area around Doonagore Bay and nearby parts of the Clare coastline.
