Gardai recover bomb materials

The explosive material was found on farmland in County Kilkenny

Police in the Republic of Ireland have recovered what is being described as a "large quantity" of commercial explosives during a crackdown on dissident republican suspects.

Four bags of powerful Frangex explosive were found by Gardai after a two day operation in the County Kilkenny village of Kilmacow in the south east.

The bags of sticks of the material which is similar to semtex were found inside a plastic drum.

The operation involved the Garda's crime and security division and special detective squad as well as local detectives in Tipperary and Kilkenny.

Two men have been arrested and are being held in separate Garda stations, one in Thurles, County Tipperary, and the other in Waterford city.

One of the men being detained under the Republic's anti-terrorist legislation is believed to be in his 20s while the other detainee is understood to be in his 50s.

Frangex is an explosive used mainly in mines.

A correspondent for RTE, the repubic's national broadcasting service, told BBC Northern Ireland that Gardai were unwilling to speculate as to the possible use for the explosives.

Paul Reynolds said Gardai were happy they had intervened before the material could be used with fatal consequences.

He added that they believed the find was linked to the Continuity IRA but pointed out that Gardai no longer differentiated between the republican dissident factions.