It is understood that the woman and baby may have died during an unsupervised home birth.

The two properties, which both had visible Christmas decorations in the windows, are about a 15-minute drive away from each other.

The remains of the elderly man and woman were found at the house near Doolin late last night.

The Garda Press Office has confirmed that gardaí in Mayfield on the northside of Cork city were alerted to an incident on Monday evening at a residence in Glounthaune.