There were 30 or so tourists on board the coach, which had collected most of its passengers already in Salthill. A large group from Limerick, on a longweekend break in Galway, three twentysomething American men, one Chinese woman and various others.

One of them recalls noticing Eileen as she boarded - very slim and looking younger than her 27 years. Evan was tall and sturdy for his age and carrying a book. Eileen and Evan sat down the back and the coach set off for the Ailwee Caves. The driver was guiding as they went, joking and telling yarns about the local history. They passed a sign for Lisdoonvarna and he joked about 60-year-old farmers holding out for a girl of 16. The group enjoyed his banter, though Eileen and Evan were quiet. Three young American lads attempted to make some conversation, to no avail. Eileen didn't seem interested in pointing out the passing sites to Evan.

Well looked after At the Ailwee Caves, Eileen and Evan joined the group going into the caves.

Inside, Evan got upset when the lights were turned off, briefly, as part of the tour. He was fine again once they came out and Eileen got him a 7Up and bag of crisps. Some of the others on the tour noticed that Evan seemed to get agitated easily and that his mother was constantly telling him not to be doing things. Though she was very caring of him and he seemed strong and healthy, and well looked after, recalled one of the group.

The tour stopped later in Doolin. At O'Connor's in Doolin, Eileen ordered a plate of chips for Evan, though he barely ate them, and she got them packed up for him to take onto the bus. Boarding for the few miles to the Cliffs of Moher, she took another couple's seats at the front of the bus. The couple didn't say anything and sat further back.

The Cliffs of Moher were on the trip itinerary, but once they were underway Eileen walked up to the bus driver and asked him would they be stopping at the cliffs. She was first off the bus when they arrived and headed on up the cliff walk with Evan, leaving the group behind.

Forty-five minutes or so later, the group was back on the bus ready to leave. Eileen and Evan's seats were empty. The bus driver did a headcount to confirm that he was missing passengers, then went to check the only other bus in the car park, in case his missing passengers had boarded the wrong bus. Time passed and the group got worried. Eileen had looked very depressed, one of the group said. One of the Americans volunteered to go back in search of Eileen and Evan. He ran up the cliff walk to the top but didn't see them.

Then the gardaí arrived, followed by two ambulances. A helicopter appeared. Another tourist, further along the cliffs, had been using binoculars and saw Eileen and Evan go over the edge and had phoned the emergency services. Eileen's body was recovered and Evan was found alive, though he died later in hospital. The tour group were taken into the café at the cliffs and the gardaí took contact details. No one on the bus had known Eileen, though one of the Americans had taken a photo on his mobile phone at the Ailwee Caves that had Eileen and Evan in it.

The tour group returned to Galway, quiet. The seats at the front remained empty.

Gardaí at Ennistymon are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy but are reluctant to confirm any details of the incident saying, "Our investigation will continue with a view to preparing a file for the county coroner when an inquest will take place at a later date."

Outlining details of the search-andrecovery operation, Doolin coastguard team leader Mattie Shannon said they received the alert at around 3.20pm and gathered a crew before launching two boats within 15 minutes.

"Valentia Coastguard Radio alerted us and we assembled at our station in Doolin. We launched the boats from Doolin pier and went immediately to where a body was seen in the water.

The alarm was raised by a ranger at the Cliffs of Moher who saw what he thought was a body in the sea at the base of the cliffs. One of our boats arrived on scene and recovered both casualties, " Shannon said. "After the casualties were taken ashore at Doolin, they were transferred to the Coastguard helicopter and airlifted to Galway University Hospital."

A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed that both casualties were pronounced dead shortly after 5pm.

Tragic reputation The cliffs have unfortunately drawn a tragic reputation when it comes to suicides in recent years, with as many as 30 people jumping to their deaths from the same location over the past decade.

The last confirmed cases where in 2004 when four people are believed to have jumped to their deaths. Last November, a 35-year-old German woman was apparently swept off the cliffs in windy conditions.

This week, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will officially open the new Euro32m Cliffs of Moher visitor experience. A major part of the project involved upgrading of walkways which were moved back from the cliff edge, as well as the provision of a number of raised viewing platforms and the erection of a 1.2m high beam between the pathways and the cliff edge. Clare County Council included theses works in an effort to improve safety for visitors and prevent easy access to the edge. Rangers have also been employed to patrol the area during opening hours.