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 13 May and Saturday 16 May 2026, across three separate incidents in Counties Donegal and Dublin. All three collisions occurred on Saturday 16 May, making it a particularly devastating day for road safety in Ireland.
The Incidents
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of all four people who died.
In Donegal, a man in his 20s died following a single-car crash on a local road at Ardmore, near Muff. The circumstances of the collision are under investigation.
Also in Donegal, two men — Caoilan Bushe, aged 30, and Leon Shovlin, aged 27 — were killed in a two-vehicle collision on the N15 at Birchhill on Saturday afternoon. The N15 is a key arterial route in north Donegal, and this stretch has seen serious incidents previously. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses.
In Dublin, a woman in her 20s was fatally struck by a car on the N11 Bray Road at Loughlinstown, shortly before midnight on Saturday night. The N11 is a busy national primary route, and incidents involving pedestrians on high-speed roads at night remain a serious concern.
Year-to-Date Context
Sixty people have now died on Irish roads so far in 2026, based on our own tally compiled from news reports. At the same point last year, the Road Safety Authority recorded 66 deaths. This represents an approximate reduction of around 9%, which is a modestly encouraging trend — though it must be viewed with care.
It is important to note that our running total is drawn from published news reports and may differ slightly from official RSA figures, which are compiled and verified separately. Comparisons between the two should be read as broadly indicative rather than precise.
Any reduction in deaths is welcome, but the loss of four lives in a single day is a stark reminder that progress on road safety can never be taken for granted, and that behind every statistic is a family in grief.
Safety Reminders
The three incidents on Saturday span a range of circumstances — a single-vehicle crash on a rural local road, a collision on a national primary route, and a fatal pedestrian incident late at night. This spread reflects the reality that road risk is not confined to one type of road, journey, or time of day.
The Road Safety Authority continues to highlight several core behaviours that save lives:
- Speed: Travelling at an appropriate speed for road and weather conditions is one of the most effective ways to prevent fatal collisions. Rural roads in particular demand caution.
- Pedestrian safety: Pedestrians on or near high-speed roads after dark face significant risk. High-visibility clothing and staying well clear of live traffic are strongly advised.
- Driver attention: Fatigue and distraction remain leading contributors to serious collisions. If you are tired, stop.
Anyone with information about any of these incidents is asked to contact An Garda Síochána.
Looking Ahead
Four families are this week facing an unimaginable loss. As we reflect on what happened on Saturday 16 May, the best tribute we can offer is renewed commitment — as drivers, passengers, and pedestrians — to the small, consistent choices that keep people safe on our roads.
We will continue to monitor and report on road fatalities throughout 2026. If you have information about an incident not captured in our records, please get in touch.
All fatality figures cited from roaddeaths.ie are compiled from publicly available news reports and may differ from official Road Safety Authority statistics. Official figures are available at rsa.ie.
Report card description: Four people were killed across three separate collisions in Donegal and Dublin on Saturday 16 May 2026, bringing the year’s road death toll to approximately 60 — around 9% below the same point last year, though the human cost remains deeply serious.