Counties Affected
Updated 28 September 2026: this report was regenerated with corrected figures. An earlier version overstated the year-on-year change by comparing against our own incomplete record of the previous year rather than official Road Safety Authority statistics, and included some double-counted incidents. See our methodology.
Overview
Four people lost their lives on Irish roads between Wednesday 23 April and Saturday 25 April 2026, with fatal collisions recorded in Donegal, Dublin, Kerry, and Sligo. Each of these deaths represents a family bereaved and a community left to grieve, and each serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life on our roads.
The Incidents
Saturday, 25 April – Cloghan, Co Donegal A teenage motorcyclist died following a collision with a car on the R252 at Cloghan in the late afternoon. The loss of a young life is always particularly devastating, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of this young person.
Saturday, 25 April – Ballintogher–Ballygawley Road, Co Sligo A 57-year-old care assistant died in a collision on her way home from work. She was, by all accounts, someone who dedicated her working life to caring for others. Her death is a profound loss to her family and to her community.
Friday, 24 April – Moyvane, Co Kerry A motorcyclist died in a collision with a van near Moyvane village. The crash occurred as the van driver was turning onto a side road from the main road — the kind of everyday manoeuvre that can have catastrophic consequences when misjudged. Motorcyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users in Ireland, and incidents at junctions and turning points are a recurring and preventable cause of tragedy.
Thursday, 23 April – Dublin Airport, Co Dublin John Fleming, a man in his 60s and the publisher of the Irish Racing Yearbook, died after being struck by a bus at Dublin Airport in the early hours of Thursday morning. John was a well-known figure in Irish racing circles, and his passing has been felt widely across that community. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Year-to-Date Context
Based on our tally compiled from news reports, 48 people have died on Irish roads so far in 2026. At the same point last year, the Road Safety Authority recorded 51 fatalities — meaning this year’s figure is running approximately 6% lower than the same period in 2025.
It is important to note that our running total is drawn from published news reports and tends to run slightly ahead of the official RSA count; direct comparisons should therefore be treated as broadly indicative rather than precise. That said, the modest reduction relative to last year is a tentative sign that efforts in road safety awareness and enforcement may be having some effect — though with 48 lives already lost in fewer than four months, there is absolutely no room for complacency.
Safety Focus: Motorcyclists and Vulnerable Road Users
Two of the four fatalities this period involved motorcyclists, continuing a pattern that has been a persistent concern for road safety bodies in Ireland. Motorcyclists are significantly over-represented in road death statistics relative to the distances they travel.
The Road Safety Authority has consistently highlighted the importance of:
- Conspicuity — wearing high-visibility gear and using headlights at all times
- Rider training — completing accredited courses beyond the minimum test requirement
- Junction awareness — many motorcycle collisions occur at turning points, where a driver’s failure to see or anticipate an oncoming motorcyclist can be fatal
- Mutual vigilance — all drivers are urged to actively look for motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians, particularly when turning or pulling out
For drivers sharing the road with motorcyclists, the simple habit of a second check at junctions and before turning can make the difference between a safe journey and a tragedy.
Pedestrian safety in busy transport environments — such as airports, bus stations, and city streets — also deserves attention, particularly during night-time hours when visibility is reduced and traffic movements may be less predictable.
A Final Word
Behind every figure in these reports is a person — a teenager, a parent, a colleague, a friend. This week, four families in Donegal, Sligo, Kerry, and Dublin are facing an unimaginable loss. We remember each of them.
As we move through the spring and into longer, busier days on the road, we ask every road user to take a moment to consider the small choices that add up to safer journeys: slow down, stay focused, look twice, and give vulnerable road users the space and time they need. No journey is worth a life.
If you have been affected by a road death, support is available through Anam Cara (anamcara.ie) and the Road Victims Trust (roadvictimstrust.ie).
Report card description: Four people died on Irish roads between 23 and 25 April 2026, in incidents across Donegal, Dublin, Kerry, and Sligo — including two motorcyclists and a care worker returning home from a shift. Ireland’s year-to-date toll of 48 deaths is running approximately 6% below the same point last year, though the human cost remains profound.