IN A weekend of road carnage, six motorcyclists were among nine people killed on the roads over the bank holiday. At least two others were injured in the incidents while four people died in other weekend accidents.
It is believed that speed and wet roads contributed to a number of the road fatalities, when cars skidded on surfaces which had become greasy because of rain after a prolonged dry spell.
The series of motorbike deaths is among the highest in recent times and follows 10 road fatalities over a similar four day period last weekend.
In Co Carlow, two men from Rathvilly died on Sunday when their motorbike collided with a minibus at about 7.30 p.m. on the Clonmore/Hacketstown road. Mr Derek Faulkner (19), died at the scene and Mr Michael Byrne (20), was pronounced dead at Kilkenny Hospital.
In Co Mayo, a motorcyclist in his mid20s was killed when his bike collided with a car at the Neale, Caherduff, Ballinrobe. He was taken to University College Hospital in Galway but died shortly afterwards. He was named as Mr Michael Leonard, of Castletown, Ballinrobe.
There was another fatality in Skryne at Tara, Co Meath, on Sunday at 9 p.m., when two motorbikes collided. Both drivers were taken to Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, Co Meath, but Mr Christopher Coffey (36), died shortly afterwards.
The 25 year old driver of the second motorbike, from Duleek, also in Co Meath, was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with suspected head and neck injuries.
In Skerries, Co Dublin, a man was killed when the jack on his car slipped as he worked underneath the vehicle. Mr Michael Leonard, who was married with four children, was discovered shortly before midnight on Sunday in the garage of his home at Millhill Park.
A motorcyclist who died in an accident in Blackrock, Co Dublin, on Saturday, was named as Mr Mark Clark (35), from Lakelands Drive, Stillorgan. Mr Clark died instantly when he collided with a car at about 5 p.m.
A motorcycle pillion passenger died in a crash with a tractor and trailer near Lixnaw, Co Kerry, on Saturday morning. She was named as Ms Anita Lyne (17) who lived locally. The driver was seriously injured.
A Polish national died following an accident at Florilegio's Circus, which is playing in Wexford. Mr Miroslaw Jadlinski (35) was taken to Wexford General Hospital at 7.50 p.m. yesterday where he died. The accident took place at Newtown 1 1/2 miles outside Wexford.
Earlier in the weekend, in Northern Ireland, Mr Stephen Ward (21), of Carrickmore, Co Tyrone, died after falling from a pickup truck. On Friday in Ballymena, Co Antrim, a boy was killed after a set of steel goalposts he was erecting fell on top of him.
Also in Antrim, a 16 year old youth died after falling into the sea at Gobbins Path near Islandmagee on Saturday evening. His body was recovered later.
An pedestrian died on Sunday in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, after being hit by a car as she crossed the Belfast road. The victim was named as Ms Diane Wilson (18) from Carrickfergus.
On Saturday morning, a man was killed when a car overturned at Ardclooney bridge on the back road between Limerick and Killaloe, Co Clare. He was named as Mr Oliver Gunning (23), from Kilbane, Broadford, Co Clare.
