Five young people have died and three others have been injured in a road crash in Dundalk in Co Louth.
The three men and two women who died were all under the age of 25 and were from a number of areas across the northeast.
They have been named as: Chloe McGee, age 23, from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan; Alan McCluskey, age 23, from Drumconrath, Co Meath; Dylan Commins, age 23, from Ardee, Co Louth; Shay Duffy, age 21, from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan; and Chloe Hipson, age 21, from Lanarkshire in Scotland.
All five were travelling in a Volkswagen Golf car which collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser on the Ardee road at Gibstown just after 9pm last night.
Another man in his 20s travelling in the Volkswagen Golf was brought to hospital in Drogheda with non-life-threatening injuries.
The two people who were in the Toyota Land Cruiser were also brought to hospital in Drogheda with non-life-threatening injuries.
The group of friends, that included a couple, were believed to be travelling to a location to socialise when the crash occurred.
The scene was examined by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit today.
Local traffic diversions will remain in place to facilitate further garda examinations and searches tomorrow.
Following forensic examinations at the scene by the State Pathologist Linda Mulligan, both vehicles were removed from the scene to a secure location shortly after 6pm this evening.
The remains of the five deceased will be brought to the morgue at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where post-mortem examinations will take place over the coming days.
Superintendent Charlie Armstrong of Dundalk Garda Station said it would have a deep impact on communities.
Watch: Gardaí say tragedy will have deep impact on local communities
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash or may have dash cam footage from the areas between 8.30pm and 9.15pm last night to contact them.
Family liaison offers have been appointed to each of the families to provide support.
Gardai said emergency services including Dundalk Fire Brigade, HSE paramedics and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda initiated a "major incident response" following the collision.
Gardaí said the local coroner's office has been notified.
Crash a reminder how things can change in split second on roads, say gardaí
An incident room has been established at Dundalk Garda Station, and an investigation has commenced under a senior investigating officer.
The crash brings to 157 the number of people who have died on Irish roads this year.
Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty said it was a very sad and poignant reminder that today is also World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
"Events that occurred here last night again are a very, very clear reminder to us of how things can change dramatically on our roads in a split second and the tragedy that brings families to communities and to loved ones," he said.
"As we stand here today, 157 people have lost their lives on Irish roads so far this year... that is a slight increase unfortunately on the number that lost their lives on roads in 2024. An Garda Siochana will continue to appeal to everybody to take care on the road," Supt Geraghty added.
