Five men have died in two separate road crashes in counties Cork and Meath overnight, bringing to 122 the number of people killed on our roads so far this year.
Four Polish men, all aged in their 20s and 30s, died instantly when the car they were in collided head-on with a lorry at Goggins Hill, Ballinahassig at around 10.20pm last night.
Their bodies have been removed to Cork University Hospital where post mortem examinations are due to be carried out.
The driver of the lorry was also taken to hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
The dead have not been identified and gardai are liaising with Interpol in a bid to contact their relatives in Poland. The road outside Bandon remained closed this morning and forensic officers will carry out an examination of the crash site later.
Meanwhile, gardai have named the man who died in a collision in Co Meath early this morning.
He was 26-year-old Martin Coen, from Lacken, Kilmihill, Co Clare.
The single vehicle collision occurred at Garlow Cross in Navan at around 5.50am. It is understood Mr Coen's car hit two horses. Both animals died at the scene.