A 22-year-old man was killed and another was seriously injured following an accident involving a bus carrying up to 40 passengers and a car near Tuam, Co Galway, yesterday morning.
The dead man, who was driving the car, has been named as Mr Kieran Payne from Belclare. He was travelling home after finishing the overnight shift at Boston Scientific at 8 a.m. when the accident happened. There were no other passengers in the car.
The driver of the private bus is in a critical condition in University College Hospital Galway. Other victims who were brought to the hospital were discharged yesterday.
The bus, owned by Burke's Coaches, was carrying up to 40 people travelling to Galway city.
Mr Payne, who attended St Patrick's School in Tuam, was a noted sportsman and played for the local GAA club, Corofin. The club social, which was due to pay special tribute to the under-21 team which Kieran captained and which won the 2002 club championship, has been cancelled as a mark of respect.
The accident occurred at Anbally on the main N17 Tuam-Galway road shortly after 8 a.m. The scene was attended by four units of the Fire Brigade from Tuam and Galway as well as ambulances from UCHG.
UCHG's major accident and emergency plan was initiated and doctors and nurses attended the scene.
A number of people who believed they were uninjured at the time of the accident later presented themselves to the A&E department.
Driving conditions at the time of the accident were poor due to dense fog. Tuam gardaí are investigating the incident.
The east Galway village of Belclare last night was coming to terms with the tragic loss of a much-loved young man who was described locally as kind-hearted and popular.
A fund-raising event organised in Corofin Community Hall last night was cancelled.
Mr Payne also held a part-time job with Tuam Hardware and DIY for four years.
Father Martin Gleeson from Belclare, who spent time with the Payne family yesterday, said the local community was "absolutely devastated" at the news.
"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Kieran's parents and his sister Sinéad."