A post-mortem examination is being carried out today on the body of a retired priest, who was found near a railway line outside Ballyhaunis yesterday.

Fr Michael Kenny, who was aged 74 and a native of Ballyhaunis, had taken early retirement as a priest of the Tuam Archdiocese, due to ill health.

The discovery was made shortly after noon yesterday by an Irish Rail worker who was inspecting the line between Ballyhaunis and Castlerea.

Fr Kenny regularly walked the land where his body was discovered.

While the post-mortem will determine the cause of death, he's thought to have died from natural causes.

Fr Michael was ordained in Tuam Cathedral in 1974, and served as curate in Recess, Mulranny, Tooreen and Belclare before being appointed parish priest in Letterfrack and subsequently in Kilconly until his retirement in 2018.

The Archbishop of Tuam Dr Michael Neary said it's with sadness that he and the priests of the diocese learnt of Fr Kenny's sudden death.

He said Fr Michael will be remembered for his kindness, and he was known as a great character.

Archbishop Neary has extended his sympathy to the Kenny family .