The five victims were all under the age of 25 and were travelling together to enjoy a night out when the horror crash happened just outside Dundalk in Co Louth on Saturday night.
President Catherine Connolly has paid tribute to the five young people who tragically died in a devastating road collision as they travelled together for a night out.
As gardaí launched a major investigation into Saturday night’s crash just outside Dundalk in Co Louth, the President said: “As President of Ireland, I am deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of five precious young lives in Louth last night.
“I am thinking of them, their families and of those injured.”
She added: “May I acknowledge also all those first responders who have worked to support all involved.”
The five victims, all under the age of 25, were named by gardaí as:
Chloe McGee, a 23 year old teacher, from Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan.
Shay Duffy, 21, also from Carrickmacross.
Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath in Co Meath.
Dylan Commins, 23 years, also from Drumconrath, and.
Chloe Hipson, 21, from Lanarkshire in Scotland.
The five friends were travelling in a Volkswagen Golf with another man when it collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser on the L3168, a minor road between Dundalk and Ardee at approximately 9pm on Saturday, reports the Irish Mirror.
The survivor, from the Ardee area, was receiving treatment for serious but non-life threatening injuries in hospital last night.
The two occupants of the Land Cruiser were also hospitalised following the collision, but neither sustained life threatening injuries.
Gardaí confirmed the six occupants of the Golf were travelling to Dundalk for a normal night out when the tragedy occurred. It’s understood that the friends had gathered in a restaurant before they all got into the Golf to head towards Dundalk.
Sources have informed us that the car burst into flames immediately after the crash – and investigators believe it was a miracle that one of the passengers survived.
This is believed to be the most devastating single road accident on Ireland’s roads since eight young individuals lost their lives in a two-vehicle collision near Buncrana in Co Donegal.
Gardai leading the investigation into the crash visited the scene yesterday at Gibstown on the L3168 – and appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Superintendent Charlie Armstrong, from Dundalk Garda Station, stated: “Yesterday evening, just after 9pm, there was a serious road traffic collision involving two vehicles, a Volkswagen Golf and a Toyota Land Cruiser.
“Five occupants of the Volkswagen Golf, three males and two females, all in their early 20s, are deceased at the scene.”
He mentioned that family liaison officers have been assigned to each of the families and gardai will keep them updated.
Mr Armstrong said: “I want to express my condolences and sympathies and the sympathies of every member of An Garda Siochana to the families of the five young adults who lost their lives yesterday evening in this road traffic collision.”
He noted that a major incident response was initiated on Saturday night by gardai and emergency services including Dundalk Fire Brigade, HSE paramedics and hospital staff.
He mentioned that a portion of the L3168 remained shut on Sunday as gardai conducted a technical and forensic examination.
He stated that post-mortem examinations would be performed in the upcoming days.
Mr Armstrong added: “I want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to my colleagues in An Garda Siochana and the other emergency services who attended the scene last night.
“The scene was very difficult, in adverse weather conditions, and the professionalism shown by all first responders and the care and respect shown to the five deceased was exemplary.
“This tragedy, with the loss of five young adults, will have a deep impact on families and local communities in Carrickmacross, Dromconrath and in Scotland.
“This is a shocking, devastating event for these families, their communities and the community here in Dundalk.
“I want to take the opportunity to appeal to any person with any information on this road traffic collision to contact the investigation team at Dundalk Garda Station.
“I am appealing to any person who was on the L3168 between 8.30pm and 9.15pm, last night Saturday November 15 2025, to contact the Garda investigation team.
“I am appealing to any person who might have any DSLR footage or images from the L3168, Gibstown area, between 8.30pm and 9.15pm last night, to give that footage or images to the investigation team at Dundalk Garda Station.
“The investigation team can be contacted at Dundalk Garda Station on 042 9388400, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
He added: “Finally, I once again want to express my sympathies to the families of the five young people who lost their lives yesterday evening.”
Alongside President Connolly, numerous politicians also expressed their condolences to those affected.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I am numbed and shocked at the horrific road crash that has led to the loss of five young lives in Dundalk, Co Louth.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these young people, and those injured.
“We also think of our first responders, who worked so professionally in truly devastating circumstances.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “A veil of deep sadness and shock has come over our country this morning with the news emerging of the devastating loss of five young lives overnight in a road traffic accident in Co Louth.
“This morning, my thoughts, and I know the thoughts of people right across our country, are with the families of those who have lost loved ones, their friends, and their communities.
“We keep them in our prayers and in our thoughts today and in the time ahead.
“I also want to pay tribute to the emergency services.
“One cannot even imagine the extraordinarily difficult and tragic circumstances in which they found themselves working last night as they set about trying to help in the most harrowing of situations.”
Local Sinn Fein TD Ruairí Ó Murchú expressed his shock, stating: “This is the most dreadful and shocking news that has stunned County Louth and the wider area. It is heartbreaking, awful and tragic for the loved ones of those who have lost their lives, and for those who have been taken to hospital.”
He also acknowledged the emergency services, saying: “I am also thinking about the emergency services who came to the accident, who helped at the scene, who took away the injured and those who had to call to the five families’ homes in the last few hours to tell them that their loved one had died in this crash.”
He urged anyone with information to come forward: “I appeal to anyone with information about the crash or who has dashcam footage to contact Gardaí as soon as possible.”
He offered words of support for the grieving families: “There are difficult and dark days ahead for the families and friends who have lost loved ones but I know that the whole of Louth will carry them and support them in every way possible as they face this unimaginable tragedy.”
Louth Labour TD Ged Nash also expressed his condolences, saying: “I want to express my deepest and heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of the five young people whose lives were so tragically lost outside Dundalk last night.”
He added: “This is an unspeakable tragedy and the families affected in Drumconrath, Carrickmacross and in Scotland are in the thoughts and prayers of the nation as they all come to terms with this incalculable, incomprehensible loss.
“Today, our thoughts are also with the courageous emergency services personnel from Louth who were called to the scene last night and who responded with supreme selflessness, dignity and professionalism.
“May those who lost their lives rest in peace.”
Garda Press Officer Superintendent Liam Geraghty noted it was particularly poignant that they were speaking on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
“The events that occurred here last night again are a very, very clear reminder for us of how things can change dramatically on our roads in a split second, and the tragedy that that brings to families, to communities and to loved ones.
“As we stand here today, 157 people have lost their lives on Irish roads so far this year in 2025. That is a slight increase, unfortunately, in the number who lost their lives on roads in 2024.”
Gardaí in Dundalk are investigating the collision and an incident room has been established at the station.
The force is appealing for witnesses to come forward.
They are asking for any person who was on the L3168 between 8.30pm and 9.15pm on Saturday to contact investigators.
They also want any person who might have any DSLR footage or images from the L3168, Gibstown area between 8.30pm and 9.15pm on Saturday to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dundalk Garda Station on 042 938 8400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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