The treasurer of a local soccer team has said everyone in the community is grieving following the deaths of two teenagers in a road traffic collision in Levallyroe, Co Mayo.
Dermot Burke, treasurer of Cloonfad United FC, said the situation is "just mind-numbing" adding that locals were down "enjoying a football match that was going to go ahead last night, and what unfolded was unbelievable".
The crash, involving a tractor and a car, happened on the N83 after 8pm last night.
Thirteen-year-old James Daniels and 19-year-old Harry Fagan were fatally injured.
Another teenage boy, understood to be 17 years of age, was seriously injured and is being treated in hospital.
All three were occupants of the car.
The driver of the tractor, a man aged in his 50s, is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
"James Daniels was a member of our under fourteen team, they won the one league a couple of weeks ago, he was very popular with all his friends and teammates," Mr Burke said.
He added: "Harry Fagan's family are famous with this club to the fundraising, with volunteering especially. His brother was on the pitch last night, his cousins on the pitch.
"Everyone's grieving, everyone's dumbfounded and our condoleneces are with the families."
It is understood that the car was travelling down the hill as a tractor with a trailer with bales was pulling out onto the road just before 8pm last night when the collision happened.
It is also understood that the teenagers were on their way to watch a match.
Thirteen-year-old James Daniels who was a member of the club and described by the treasurer as a friendly and bubbly teenager, was a passenger in the back seat of the car.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Driver of the car, 19-year-old Harry Fagan, died shortly afterwards.
His family are all heavily involved with the club.
His brother who was the front seat passenger is in Mayo University Hospital where he is in a serious condition.
The road where the crash happened has reopened after being closed for a technical examination.
Gardaí say that a family liaison officer has been assigned to support the families.
Fine Gael Councillor Alma Gallagher, from Ballyhaunis, described the news as tragic.
She said: "We woke up this morning to the tragic news that two young lives have been lost on our roads.
"Two young men who were so well known and much loved in our community with such bright futures ahead of them , to have their lives cut short in such tragic circumstances is just devastating.
"There are no words to capture how we are feeling. Cloonfada and Ballyhaunis are united in grief and our main focus is to support their families and young friends at this time. My deepest condolences to both families who I know so well and their many friends."
Fianna Fáil Councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice said there is "terrible sadness" and a "total numbness" in the village after the fatal crash.
He said there were football matches taking place in the area at the time of the crash and a lot of people came out to see what had happened.
He said there are a huge amount of people shocked by the incident.
An appeal for information has been issued and gardaí are asking road users who may have camera footage (including dash cam) and were travelling in the area at the time of the crash to make it available to them.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballina Garda Station on 096-20560, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
