A grandmother, her two daughters and her grandson were killed in a horrific car crash involving six vehicles near Cahir, Co Tipperary early this morning.
Their car collided with a truck coming in the opposite direction on a straight stretch of road near the Kilcoran Lodge hotel on the main Dublin to Cork road.
Those who died have been named as Mrs Mary Dalton (71) and two of her daughters, Ms Kathleen Quish (47) and Ms Mary Downes (31). The four-year-old boy who died was Robert Downes. They were all from the Glockamara area near Mitchelstown.
Another boy, aged six, is in a critical condition in Cork University Hospital, while two truck drivers are in a stable condition.
Three other trucks and a van were also involved in the crash which occurred just before day break . Driving conditions were not said to have been particularly bad, apart from dampness on the road.
Gardai are using aerial photographs to establish the cause of the accident. The road remains closed and diversions are in operation around the area.
In a separate incident, a man died following a two-car collision near Tubbercurry in Co Sligo this morning at around 7:30 a.m.