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
Three people lost their lives on Irish roads between Saturday 25 and Monday 28 April 2026, with fatal collisions recorded in Donegal, Dublin, and Sligo. Behind each of these statistics is a person — a teenager, an elderly woman, a working mother — and families whose lives have been changed forever. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected.
Incidents
Saturday, 25 April — Cloghan, Co. Donegal (R252) A teenage motorcyclist was fatally injured in a collision with a car on the R252 near Cloghan on Saturday afternoon. The loss of a young life is a reminder of the particular vulnerability of motorcyclists on rural roads, and of the need for all road users to exercise care, especially on regional routes where hazards can develop quickly.
Saturday, 25 April — Ballintogher–Ballygawley Road, Co. Sligo A 57-year-old care assistant died in a collision on a local road in Co. Sligo while making 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, her community, and her colleagues.
Sunday, 26 April — Knocklyon, Dublin A woman in her 80s died after a car struck a wall at a car park in Knocklyon, south Dublin. This incident serves as a gentle but important reminder that road safety awareness extends to all environments — including car parks and local roads — and to drivers of all ages and circumstances.
Year to Date
So far in 2026, our tally — compiled from published news reports — stands at 49 road deaths. At the same point in 2025, the Road Safety Authority recorded 51 fatalities. This represents an approximate decrease of around 4%, which is a modest and cautiously encouraging difference, though it is important not to read too much into early-year figures. It should also be noted that our running count is drawn from media reports and may differ slightly from the official RSA total when published.
No trend, however modest, changes the human reality of these losses. Every figure represents someone who set out and did not come home.
Safety Context and Advice
Two of this period’s three fatalities occurred on rural or regional roads — a pattern that has been a persistent concern for road safety bodies in Ireland. The RSA has long highlighted the heightened risk on rural roads, where speed, road conditions, and longer emergency response times can all be factors.
With the May bank holiday weekend approaching, the RSA and An Garda Síochána typically increase enforcement activity and public awareness messaging around this period. Key reminders for all road users include:
- Motorcyclists and drivers: Extra vigilance is needed at junctions and on rural roads, particularly in the afternoon and evening when light can change quickly.
- Fatigue: Drivers returning from shifts or long journeys should allow adequate rest time before driving. Fatigue is a known and underreported contributor to road collisions.
- Speed and road conditions: Reduce speed on unfamiliar or local roads, where hazards may not be immediately obvious.
- Older and vulnerable road users: Extra care should be taken in car parks, built-up areas, and wherever pedestrian activity is likely.
Looking Ahead
The coming bank holiday weekend will bring increased traffic volumes across the country, and with them, a heightened responsibility on every person behind the wheel, every motorcyclist, and every pedestrian sharing our roads. The slight year-on-year reduction in fatalities is not a reason for complacency — it is an invitation to continue the work that makes roads safer for everyone.
Please slow down. Please stay alert. Please arrive.
If you have information about a road death not included in our records, contact us through the website so we can ensure every life is counted and acknowledged.
Report card description: Three people — a teenager, an elderly woman, and a working mother — died on Irish roads between 25 and 28 April 2026, in counties Donegal, Sligo, and Dublin. With 49 deaths recorded so far this year, the toll remains broadly similar to the same point in 2025.