Gardaí and political leaders have expressed shock and sadness following last night's crash in Co Louth, in which five young people were killed, with the President saying she is "deeply saddened and shocked" by the incident.
The three men and two women who died were all under the age of 25 and were from counties Monaghan, Meath and Louth, while one of the women was from Scotland.
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, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan; Chloe Hipson, age 21, from Lanarkshire, 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 Drogehda with non-life-threatening injuries.
The two people who were in the Toyota Land Cuiser were also brought to hospital in Drogehda with non-life-threatening injuries.
President Catherine Connolly said: "I am deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of five precious young lives in Louth last night.
"I am thinking of them, their families and of those injured. May I acknowledge also all those first responders who have worked to support all involved."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was "numbed and shocked" at the crash, which he described as "horrific".
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these young people.
"We also think of our first responders, who worked so professionally in truly devastating circumstances," he added.
Numbed and shocked at the horrific road crash that has lead to the loss of five young lives.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 16, 2025
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these young people.
We also think of our first responders, who worked so professionally in truly devastating circumstances.
The principal of Ó Fiaich Institute in Dundalk, where Ms McGee was a teacher, said they are "devastated" following the crash.
"Chloe was a very valued member of our staff and an extremely energetic, positive person and someone who enjoyed life and who gave everything she had to her job, to her educational community and to her students," Principal Padraig McGovern said.
"This educational community is devastated today and will be for a long time to come as someone like Chloe doesn't come about very often," he said.
"She was able to sell her subject, motivate students, irrespective of their ability, and was somebody who was so willing to take part in everything that was going on," he added.
Ms McGee taught woodwork, construction and graphics at the secondary school in Dundalk.
Mr McGovern said when news of the tragedy came through, management at the school put in place a critical incident response.
He said that supports would be available for staff and students at the school, with the help of Louth & Meath Education and Training Board and the national education psychological service.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said there was a "veil of deep sadness and shock" over the country, adding that the thoughts and prayers of people across the country would be with the families of those who died.
"We keep them in our prayers and in our thoughts now and in the time ahead," he added.
Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety Seán Canney said the crash had "numbed the nation".
He said he has had an initial briefing on the incident and will be meeting gardaí, the RSA and Department officials as more detailed information becomes available in the days ahead.
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"The immediate focus today and in the days ahead is to support families, friends and communities as they try to cope with the enormity of last night's events."
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the incident was "heartbreaking", adding that her thoughts were also with the members of emergency services who responded to the situation.
Co Meath Sinn Féin Councillor Michael Gallagher said people are "devastated and heartbroken" following the crash.
Speaking to RTÉ's This Week, Mr Gallagher, who lives in Drumconrath, said he knows the families of three of the young men who died in the crash.
"It's devastating news for any family to hear," he said.
Crash will have 'deep impact on families and communities involved, say gardaí
Gardaí have said last night's crash will have a "deep impact" on the local communities and families of the deceased.
Speaking this morning, Superintendent Charlie Armstrong of Dundalk Garda Station described it as a "shocking, devastating" incident.
Supt Armstrong appealed for privacy for the families involved, adding that each of them has had a family liaison officer appointed to support them.
He also praised the response by emergency services to what he described as a very difficult scene, during what were adverse weather conditions.
"The professionalism shown by all first responders and the care and respect shown to the five deceased was exemplary," he added.
The parish priests of Carrickmacross and Magheracloone have expressed their "heartfelt and prayer-filled sympathy to the families and many friends" of the deceased.
In a statement issued by the Diocese of Clogher, the parish priests said: "After visiting the families today and spending time with them, we share in the devastation that is being visited upon them and on these communities.
"We are very conscious too of the impact of this on the many friends of Chloe, Shay, Alan, Dylan and Chloe. They are all very much in our prayers at this awful moment."
