There is a "sense of devastation" and "palpable grief" in Co Louth, local priests have said, following a crash that claimed the lives of five young people in over the weekend.
The scene at the Ardee Road at Gibstown in Dundalk remained closed overnight with local diversions in place and the work of garda forensic collision investigators will resume there today.
The two vehicles have been taken from the scene and it is expected that post-mortem examinations will be carried out over the coming days.
They have been named as: 23-year-old Chloe McGee, from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan; Alan McCluskey, aged 23, from Drumconrath, Co Meath; 23-year-old Dylan Commins, from Ardee, Co Louth; Shay Duffy, aged 21, from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan; and 21-year-old Chloe Hipson from Lanarkshire in Scotland.
Monsignor Shane McCaughey said there was "palpable grief" across the communities affected by the crash.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Monsignor McCaughey said: "There is just a sense of devastation, this palpable grief that is right across our communities this morning, yesterday.
"It has just been a terrible experience for the families involved."
Monsignor McCaughey knows the family of Ms McGee and he described them as "salt of the earth".
"I spent some time with them yesterday afternoon and evening. I have to say this it was the first time that I actually witnessed a family collapsing," he said.
Monsignor McCaughey said when the family saw the image of their daughter on the Six One News "you could actually see a family collapsing in front of you".
"It was the most terrible experience to witness such unrelenting grief. A cry from the heart of parents and siblings and friends who were with us in the house at that stage," he said.
Monsignor McCaughey said Ms McGee had made "such a huge success of her life."
"She really really stuck hard at it and she achieved her dream to be a teacher," he added.
'Grief beyond description' in community after fatal Dundalk crash
Fr Finian Connaughton, the parish priest of Drumconrath, said he knew Mr McCluskey and his family very well.
Speaking on the same programme, he said: "I would have known Alan from his very earliest days - given him his first Communion, Confirmation, and I know the family, a very regular attender at church, it would have to be said.
"Alan and his family are very much involved here in the parish, so it was devastation to hear that news."
Fr Connaughton said he was conscious that the community was grieving "so severely", but added that he was aware the McCluskeys were just one of five families who are suffering the same grief.
"I'd offer my condolences and sympathy to them, but our community here, absolutely it is beyond description the sense of grief that is around," he added.
Fr Connaughton said it was a "very close-knit community" and the McCluskeys are very "community-minded people".
He said: "There are very few things going in the community centre that the McCluskeys are not involved in. I know community will rally round at this time, as they’ve done in the past."
The group of friends, that included a couple, were believed to be travelling to a location to socialise when the crash occurred.
Another man in his 20s, who was travelling in the Volkswagen Golf, was taken to hospital in Drogheda with non-life-threatening injuries.
The two people in the Toyota Land Cruiser, a man and a woman who are also in their 20s, were taken to hospital in Drogheda with non-life-threatening injuries.
Following examinations at the scene by State Pathologist Linda Mulligan, both vehicles were removed from to a secure location shortly after 6pm yesterday.
Garda investigations ongoing
Superintendent Charlie Armstrong, of Dundalk Garda Station, described the scene as "difficult" and commended first responders and other services.
He told RTÉ's Morning Ireland: "It was a difficult scene, the weather conditions were adverse, it was a dark night, wet and windy and again I'd like to commend the professionalism of all services that attended there."
Supt Armstrong said first responders who attend such scenes "see things that you can't unsee - the uniform is not a shield for that".
He said those officers finished duty at 7am yesterday morning and were back working last night.
Supt Armstrong said they were given the option to be replaced by colleagues, but they wanted to return to service.
He added that family liaison officers had been assigned to the families affected.
He said a senior investigating officer was appointed at Dundalk Garda Station, and an incident room was established.
"We will be investigating all circumstances in relation to the road traffic collision currently, the scene is still preserved, vehicles have been removed from the scene, and we are currently conducting a search.
"The forensic collision investigation unit came down and provided assistance and have technically examined the scene, but our investigations are still ongoing," he said.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash or may have dash cam footage from the area between 8.30pm and 9.15pm on Saturday night to contact Dundalk Garda Station on 042 938 8400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Additional reporting Laura Hogan and Samantha Libreri
