Five people in their early 20s have died following a two-car crash in Louth.
They were all travelling in the same Volkswagen Golf car when the crash happened shortly after 9pm.
Gardaí say the deceased were from Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan and Drumconrath in Co Meath, with one of the women from Scotland.
One man in his 20s, who was travelling in the same car was seriously hurt but his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Two other people, a man and a woman from the other car, also suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy says this will have a deep impact on families and local communities:
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has also expressed his sympathies with the families and friends of the deceased and those injured:
I am numbed and shocked at the horrific road crash that has led to the loss of five young lives in Dundalk, County Louth.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these young people, and those injured.
We also think of our first responders, who worked so professionally in truly devastating circumstances.
