President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to the four young people killed in last night's road crash in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, saying that the grief expressed by the community is "nearly unbearable".
Luke McSweeney, 24, his sister Grace McSweeney, as well as Nicole Murphy and Zoey Coffey, all aged 18, were confirmed dead following the crash, which happened just after 7.30pm last night on the Mountain Road in Clonmel.
In a statement this afternoon, President Higgins said "the hearts of all parents and relatives, indeed the whole community, will have gone out to the families" of the four.
"The grief that has been expressed by the community is nearly unbearable and I send my deepest sympathies to their families, their whole community, those in their year in school and the whole school, pupils and management."
The three young women had received their Leaving Cert results earlier in the day and were on their way to meet friends for a planned celebration event. There was no other vehicle involved.
A number of local events in the town were cancelled following the incident, including local park runs and Pride parade events, while support services are also being made available in the town.
Locals laid flowers at the scene of the crash, where a number of young people also gathered during the day.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar earlier said that the "whole nation mourns" following the incident.
"Leaving Cert results night should mark the beginning of a world of opportunities for young people. It's a milestone on the road from childhood to adulthood.
"For young lives, so full of possibility, to be cut short in this way is truly devastating and heartbreaking. The whole nation mourns them."
"I am assured that the school authorities and HSE will work together to put in place the necessary supports for their classmates and community. We must come together in times such as this."
Tánaiste Micheál Martin described the crash as "heartbreaking".
Deeply saddened by the tragic, heartbreaking loss of four young lives in Clonmel.
Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, classmates, the first responders, and the entire community today.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 26, 2023
Minister for Education Norma Foley said she is "saddened beyond measure", adding that her department will provide support to students and staff in the period ahead.
She said: "This is heartbreaking news on what should have been a day of enormous celebration and joy for the class of 2023.
"School communities in Ireland are akin to tight-knit families and I know this morning that staff, students, parents and guardians will be united in their grief and utter devastation at this tragic and sudden loss of life.
"The Department of Education, through the National Educational Psychological Service, will provide essential supports to staff and students over the coming period.
"The grief felt by those affected by the loss of four young lives is acute and we will do all that we can to support them at this sad and difficult time."
'Celebration turned to devastation'
Independent TD for Tipperary Mattie McGrath, whose office is based in Clonmel, described the incident as "every parent's worst nightmare".
"Sometimes there are just no words strong enough to express the sadness and horror of such an unthinkable tragedy for the families and friends of the four young lives taken far too soon.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and school communities in Clonmel and to our emergency services personnel who had to respond to such an unimaginable scene.
"A time of celebration has turned to a time of devastation."
He added: "The community of Clonmel have been left numbed by the loss of four young lives as they prepared to celebrate the next chapter in their lives and will take some time to recover but I have no doubt that the community will rally around the families and friends of the deceased at this most difficult time."
Fellow Independent TD for Tipperary Michael Lowry said people across Tipperary and the entire country were "overcome with shock and sadness".
He said: "The closely knit community of Clonmel and people across the entire county of Tipperary and beyond will rally to offer every possible support to the families and friends in the very difficult days, weeks and months that lie ahead. They will be in the thoughts and prayers of all.
"May their souls rest in eternal peace."
Clonmel Mayor Cllr Richie Molloy said this morning that the crash has had a "numbing" effect on the community.
"It's hard to comprehend what's happened," he said.
He said he has teenage children and understood the excitement yesterday among young people getting their Leaving Cert results.
"How quickly, in the blink of an eye, it turned into such a tragedy," he said.
Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan said the whole community would be there to stand beside those impacted.
"We are all shocked by this tragic news of four young lives lost in the car accident yesterday evening near Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
"I offer my sincere sympathy to all the families, friends, classmates and teachers of those who have died.
"Together, with the whole community of the people of Clonmel, the diocese and throughout the country, we will be there to stand beside and support the heartbroken and all those affected by this tragedy."
Among those who gathered at the scene to express their grief was Leah Butler, a friend of Grace McSweeney.
Leah told RTÉ News how Grace had studied hard for her Leaving Certificate with the hope of going to college and had done well in her exams.
"She was off to get her results yesterday and she did so well.
"She studied 12 hours every single day to get what she got and now it's all just gone from her.
"That girl studied her heart out for her leaving Cert and and she was off just to enjoy herself just for one night and it all got taken away in the space of two minutes.
"She was the most bubbly, kind hearted girl you could ever meet.
"She was everyone's friend. She was stunning, a stunning girl. She was just perfect"
She said everyone in the area was feeling completely lost.
"All of this can happen in a second and you just don't realise. It's just shock. It all came as a shock you can't really believe it's true"
Local man Billy O'Riordan said he believed it was the worst tragedy in the town in living memory, adding that many parents had travelled to a neighbouring county to collect their children - also Leaving Cert students - from their celebrations as news of the tragedy emerged.
"The Leaving Cert results is meant to be a time of great joy and celebration and in an instant, it was turned into one of the worst tragedies to beset the town.
"My own son is a friend of the deceased and I don’t think they can take it in. It’s a tradition in the town that when you have done the Leaving Cert they head to Carlow.
"There’s a big nightclub there and a lot of people from south Tipperary were heading to Carlow.
"I know that a lot of parents were so upset after the event last night that they drove to Carlow and collected their young ones or brought them straight home so its had a massive impact."
Parishioners leaving evening mass at St. Marys Church in Clonmel expressed their sympathies with the families who had lost loved ones.
Noel Butler, a former teacher of some of the young people who died said everyone in the community is sharing in the grief
"As a parent you cant but feel the pain. As my daughter said to me this morning to this morning it could have been any of us.
"In a way yesterday was full of joy and sorrow all in the 24 hours so I think everyone in Clonmel's hearts are breaking whether you knew them or not."
Christina Mulcahy said people are feeling terrible.
"Its just awful, its unbearable. Two out of one family its just dreadful. Can you imagine"
