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
Five people lost their lives on Irish roads between Saturday 16 May and Monday 19 May 2026, across four separate incidents in counties Donegal, Dublin, and Wexford. The toll of five fatalities over a single weekend is a sobering reminder of the human cost of road collisions, and our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all those who died.
The Incidents
Saturday 16 May was a particularly devastating day, with three separate collisions claiming four lives.
In Co. Donegal, a two-vehicle collision on the N15 at Birchhill during Saturday afternoon claimed the lives of Caoilan Bushe, aged 30, and Leon Shovlin, aged 27. The deaths of two named young men serve as a particular reminder that every fatality statistic represents a person known and loved by their community. Later that same day, a second fatal single-car crash occurred at Ardmore, Muff, in north Donegal, where a man in his 20s died. Donegal suffered the loss of three lives in one day.
That same Saturday night, close to midnight, a woman in her 20s was struck and killed by a car on the N11 Bray Road in Loughlinstown, Dublin. Pedestrian safety on busy national roads — particularly at night — remains a critical concern, and this tragedy underlines the vulnerability of those on foot near fast-moving traffic.
On Monday 18 May, a man in his 20s died in a single-vehicle collision on the R702 near Curraghgraigue, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, at around 11.30am. Single-vehicle incidents of this nature are a recurring feature of Irish road fatality data and often involve factors such as speed, road conditions, or driver distraction.
Year-to-Date Context
Based on our own tally compiled from news reports, 61 people have died on Irish roads so far in 2026. At the same point in 2025, the official Road Safety Authority figure stood at 66 fatalities. This represents an approximate reduction of around 8% compared to last year’s figure at this stage.
It is important to note that our running count is drawn from media reports and may differ slightly from the official RSA tally, which is published separately. The comparison should therefore be read as broadly indicative rather than a precise finding. While any reduction is welcome, a difference of this scale is modest, and five deaths in a single weekend illustrates clearly that progress, where it exists, remains fragile.
Safety Reminders
The incidents this period touch on several themes that road safety authorities consistently highlight:
- Single-vehicle collisions — often linked to excessive speed, fatigue, or loss of vehicle control — accounted for two of this weekend’s four incidents. Drivers are urged to adjust speed to road and weather conditions, take regular breaks on longer journeys, and never underestimate rural roads.
- Pedestrian safety — the fatal collision on the N11 in Loughlinstown is a reminder to pedestrians to use lit, designated crossing points where possible, wear reflective or bright clothing after dark, and to drivers to remain alert for pedestrians, especially at night.
- Rural roads — three of the four incidents this period occurred outside of major urban centres. Rural roads frequently feature higher speed limits, fewer safety barriers, and less margin for error. Extra care and reduced speed on unfamiliar or narrow routes can be life-saving.
The Road Safety Authority’s ongoing campaigns continue to emphasise that the leading causes of fatal collisions remain speed, impairment, distraction, and failure to wear seatbelts. These are all factors within the control of every road user.
Looking Ahead
Behind each figure in a road safety report is a family facing an unimaginable loss. Caoilan Bushe and Leon Shovlin are named here, but every one of the five people who died this period — and every one of the 61 lost so far this year — had a name, a life, and people who loved them.
Safer roads are not built on statistics alone. They are built on the choices each of us makes every time we get behind the wheel, cross a road, or set off on a journey. Please drive to the conditions, look out for others, and arrive. If you are travelling this coming week, take a moment to consider the small decisions that can make all the difference.
If you have been affected by road death or serious injury, Carecall provides a free support service on behalf of the RSA at 1800 24 24 24.
Report card description: Five people died on Irish roads between 16 and 19 May 2026, with three of the four fatal incidents occurring on a single Saturday in Donegal and Dublin. The weekend’s toll underlines the ongoing human cost of road collisions as fatalities run approximately 8% below last year’s level to date.