TWO males have been arrested in Co Galway following a high-speed car chase, just hours after a violent theft from a shop in Ballyvourney in West Cork.

A garda spokesman has confirmed that the two men entered the shop – the O'Luasa premises – wearing balaclavas, at approximately 8.10am this morning.

In what was described as a ‘very violent and aggressive manner’ they confronted the two female shop assistants and demanded cash. They were armed with iron bars.

There were no customers in the shop at the time, which had just opened for the day’s trading.

It is believed the two men made off with a ‘substantial’ amount of money in a Mini Cooper car which was stolen from the Bruff area of Co Limerick last night.

It was seen in the Millstreet area some time after the crime was committed.

At approximately 1.20pm today the two were arrested in Gort, Co Galway, having been pursued by gardaí.

One of the men is being questioned at Gort Garda Station and the other is being questioned at Loughrea, both in Co Galway.

The cash has been recovered and the men are due to appear before a court sitting within the coming days.

A team of detectives from West Cork is currently en route to Galway to help with the investigation, the spokesperson told The Southern Star.

‘This was a most violent and aggressive crime,’ said the garda, appealing for anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the Ballyvourney area, or may have seen the stolen Mini Cooper in West Cork, Millstreet, or en route to Co Galway.