A US$2 billion-plus contract to work in the Gorgon gas fields project in Western Australia has gone to Irish oil company Kentz, the Irish Echo reports.

The work involves support in various aspects of the construction of three processing plants for liquefied natural gas from the Greater Gorgon fields - some 130km from the northwest coast of Western Australia - with a total annual capacity of 15 million tonnes.

According to Kentz, the contract will create more than 1,650 jobs for construction personnel in Western Australia.

The Irish Echo has more on the story HERE.

The body of the Irish student backpacker who drowned while scuba diving in Australia recently was returned to her family yesterday.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, 23-year-old Elaine Morrow from Ballintra, Co Donegal, had been on a beginner's diving course off the coast of Queensland on 18 April when she became separated from her group and failed to surface.

The Irish Independent reports that her funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon, after a service at Drumholm Parish Church of Ireland in Ballintra.

An Irishwoman who drowned while scuba diving in the Whitsunday Islands in Australia has been named, the Irish Examiner reports.

Elaine Morrow, 23, from Ballintra in Co Donegal, had been on a three-day beginners diving course in the island chain, off the coast of Queensland, when she was separated from her group on Monday.

It is believed the woman had been in Australia for almost a year on a working holiday visa.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has contacted the family and offered consular assistance.