Two people killed in separate accidents in Louth and Kildare on Monday were named yesterday by gardaí.
James Hughes (37) from Silverbridge, Co Armagh, died at around 4.50am after his car crashed on the Armagh road in Dundalk.
Later, Niamh Conneely of Caherslee, Tralee, Co Kerry died following a collision at Castledermot, Co Kildare.
According to gardaí, Ms Conneely (27) was killed when the car she was driving collided with an oncoming lorry at around 1pm on Monday.
The two deaths bring the total number of people killed on the State's roads so far this year to 135, six more than for the same period last year.
Meanwhile, an accident involving six cars brought traffic to a standstill on the M50 motorway in Dublin yesterday morning.
The pile-up happened at around 11am near the Red Cow Roundabout and traffic was delayed while emergency services cleared the scene.
Best restaurants win awards
Eight restaurants and their owners, including Cork's Myrtle Allen and Dublin's Derry Clarke, were honoured by their peers and presented with awards at a ceremony in Dublin yesterday.
The 2005 Bushmills Malt Best Irish Restaurant Award was won by Myrtle Allen, of The Yeats Room, Ballymaloe House, Co Cork. The Best Chef Award was presented to Derry Clarke, of L'Ecrivain Restaurant, Dublin.
The awards, now in their seventh year, are voted on by restaurateurs all around the country.
A newly-introduced award, the best ethnic restaurant award, which was voted for by viewers of TV3's Ireland AM programme, was presented to Sam Chan, Wing Tai House in Buncrana, Co Donegal. Dublin's Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud won the best restaurant service award, while The Hungry Monk Restaurant, Greystones, Co Wicklow, won the best wine list award.
The best value restaurant award went to Roly's Bistro, Ballsbridge, Dublin, while the best fish restaurant award in association with BIM was won by Seán Cluskey, Doyle's Seafood Restaurant, Dingle, Co Kerry. The Mint Restaurant, Ranelagh, Dublin, was presented with the most stylish award.
€250,00 wasted as Bush fails to land
A major security operation involving the US Secret Service, White House staff, the Garda, and the Army and Air Corps swung into operation at Shannon airport yesterday for president George Bush.
He was due to make a refuelling stop which was cancelled at the last minute.
It is believed the deployment will cost the taxpayer an estimated €250,000 after as many as 200 troops and gardaí were drafted in.
Garda air support and mounted and dog units were also sent to Shannon airport. However, shortly after 3.30pm the security cordon began to be gradually dropped as it was confirmed that the president would not be landing.