Gardaí and transport officials are investigating a bus crash in which 34 young Gaelic football fans were injured after a private bus went off the road in Co Roscommon.
A major emergency plan went into operation when the 51-seater coach crashed through a roadworks barrier and went off the road.
The owner of the coach involved in the crash, Andrew Treacy from Treacy's Coaches in Ballina, last night commended the driver for preventing the vehicle overturning after it had gone out of control through the crash barrier.
Mr Treacy was critical of the fact that there are no signs in place to warn motorists that there was a dangerous S bend ahead.
Safety at the site was also criticised by a local politician.
The road narrows significantly because of Charlestown bypass construction work and all N5 traffic funnels into what Mayo Fine Gael TD John O'Mahony describes as "a dangerous S bend". Deputy O'Mahony said there were no warning lights or signs . "There was a serious accident on the Swinford end of the bypass during the summer and warning lights are now in place there," he said.
Last night the families of the young passengers expressed relief that there were no very serious injuries.
Thirty four people, mostly young members of a Foróige Club in Co Mayo, were taken to hospital after the coach crashed near Ballaghaderreen.
The group, all from the parish of Ardagh, midway between Ballina and Crossmolina, were on their way to Croke Park to attend the women's All-Ireland senior football final.
The crash occurred at about 9.30am in the townland of Palmfield, Carracastle on the N5 Dublin to Westport road. The site is at the eastern end of the new 18-kilometre Charlestown bypass which is due to be opened before the end of the year.
None of the injuries were serious and all of those admitted to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar and Roscommon County Hospital had been released by last evening.
HSE West ambulance personnel were holding a training exercise in nearby Claremorris and were able to respond quickly.
The injured were taken to hospital in a fleet of ambulances and minibuses.