Two teenagers who lost their lives after the car in which they were travelling crashed and burst into flames near Ballina, Co Mayo, have been named locally.
Padraic Tuffy (19) and Cian Farrell (18) died and three others were injured in the incident, which happened around 4.15am at Laghtadawannagh, on a local link road, the L5140.
Both were members of well-known and respected Ballina town families.
The three other occupants of the car had miraculous escapes from serious injury when the car in which they were passengers left the road and landed in a ditch..
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The survivors, two boys in their mid-teens and an adult woman, were brought by ambulance to Mayo University Hospital for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
In a statement, Ballina-based Senator Mark Duffy said: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have passed, their family and friends who are suffering from this tragedy which has befallen our community”.
Michael Loftus, a member of Mayo County Council, said he knows the families of the deceased well.
“My heart goes out to the families,” Loftus said.
Firemen and other members of the emergency services who rushed to the accident location were met with horrifying and distressing scenes, said Loftus.
“The first responders have to be commended for their actions in hugely difficult and trying circumstances,” Loftus said.
The weekend deaths in Co Mayo bring to 27 the number of lives lost in road incidents in the State since the start of the year.
Garda data shows 25 road fatalities by Friday, February 27th – three more than in the same period in 2025. PSNI data shows 15 road deaths in Northern Ireland from the start of January to February 26th – seven more than in the same period in 2025.
The coroner for the district of Mayo, Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald, has been informed of the latest deaths and inquests will be conducted at a later date.
Postmortem examinations are to be conducted at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to contact them, particularly any road users who may have camera footage, including dashcam, from the area at the time.
