Irish naval vessel the LÉ Niamh has picked up 256 migrants, during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean.

They were rescued from a wooden barge 90 kilometres north-east of the Libyan capital Tripoli.

235 men, 13 women and 8 children were brought on board the ship.

Sea conditions at the time were good and the operation was completed at 4 o'clock this afternoon.

The crew of the vessel rescued 98 migrants during an operation yesterday.

The LÉ Niamh left Ireland for the Mediterranean on the 10th of July, taking over operations from the naval vessel LÉ Eithne.

Eithne arrived back in Ireland last week. It was involved in over 22 operations and saved 3,376 people over the course of two months at sea.