Gardaí are investigating after a woman died in a house fire in Hacketstown, Co Carlow.
A woman has died following a fire at her home in Co Carlow.
The 50-year-old was pulled from the house by her son early this morning. She was later pronounced dead.
Her son returned home at around 4.30am to find the house at Mountain View in Hacketstown on fire.
Fine Gael TD Pat Deering, who serves the area, said it was a Christmas tragedy and that the local community had been left reeling.
"We can't begin to imagine what her son must be going through," Mr Deering said.
"For something like this to happen the day before Christmas Eve is just terribly, terribly sad."
Her body was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital where a post-mortem examination is expected to take place tomorrow.
Gardai have sealed off the area surrounding the house and started a technical investigation.
A Garda spokesman said early indications suggest the fire started accidentally.