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 26 and Monday 28 July 2026, with fatal collisions recorded in Clare, Tipperary, and Meath. All three deaths occurred on or around the early hours of Sunday morning, a sobering reminder of the dangers present on our roads at any time of day or night, and across a wide variety of road types and road users.
Our deepest condolences go to the families, friends, and colleagues of all three people who died.
The Incidents
Clare – R466, Broadford (26 July)
Off-duty Garda Sergeant Andrew O’Riordan was killed when the car in which he was travelling as a passenger crashed into an oak tree on the R466 outside Broadford, Co Clare. The driver, a man aged in his 50s, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital, though he has since been discharged. Sergeant O’Riordan’s death has been felt deeply, both within An Garda Síochána and in the wider community. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues at this difficult time.
Tipperary – L4101, Lanespark, near Thurles (26 July)
Sonny McCarthy, aged 19, from Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, died in the early hours of Sunday morning after his car left the road on the L4101 at Lanespark, Ballynotty, just outside Thurles. Sonny was 19 years old. His death is a devastating loss, and we extend our sincere sympathies to his family and all who knew him.
Meath – Kentstown Road, Navan (26 July)
A man travelling on an e-scooter was fatally injured in a collision with a car on the Kentstown Road in Navan at approximately 1.45am on Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of the car were uninjured. This incident is a reminder that e-scooter users, like cyclists and pedestrians, are among the most vulnerable road users and deserve particular care and attention from all who share our roads.
Year to Date
Based on our own tally compiled from news reports, 101 people have now died on Irish roads in 2026 up to this point in the year. At the same point last year, the Road Safety Authority recorded 91 fatalities in their official figures — a difference of approximately 11%.
It is important to note that our running total is drawn from media reports and tends to run slightly ahead of the official RSA count, so a direct comparison should be treated with some caution. That said, the figures do suggest that 2026 is tracking somewhat higher than the same period in 2025, and that warrants attention. We will continue to monitor the official RSA data as it is published.
Safety Considerations
Several themes emerge from this week’s incidents that are worth reflecting on:
Rural and regional roads. Two of this week’s collisions occurred on rural roads — an R-class road in Clare and an L-class road in Tipperary. Lower-grade roads frequently lack central barriers, hard shoulders, and adequate lighting, and they demand extra care, particularly at night or in poor visibility. Reduced speed and full attention are essential on these routes.
Night-time and early-morning collisions. All three fatalities this week occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning. Fatigue, reduced visibility, and other factors can significantly increase risk during these hours. If you are tired, do not drive. If your journey can wait until daylight, let it.
E-scooter and vulnerable road user safety. The death in Navan highlights the ongoing risks faced by e-scooter riders. E-scooters are now a common sight on Irish roads and streets, yet they offer little physical protection in the event of a collision. Riders are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet, use lights after dark, and remain visible to other road users. Drivers, in turn, are reminded to give vulnerable road users — scooter riders, cyclists, and pedestrians — adequate space and patience at all times.
The Road Safety Authority continues to encourage all road users to plan ahead, avoid distractions, and never drive while tired or impaired. Their Be Safe, Be Seen guidance for vulnerable road users, and their broader Slow Down campaign messaging, remain as relevant as ever during the summer months when road activity increases.
Looking Ahead
Every one of the people remembered in this report had family and friends who are now living with an unimaginable loss. Road deaths are not inevitable. The choices we make — how fast we drive, how alert we are, how much care we extend to those around us — have real consequences for real people.
As we move through the remainder of summer, we ask every road user to take a moment before setting out: slow down, stay focused, and look out for one another. The roads belong to all of us, and we all share a responsibility for what happens on them.
If you have been affected by a road death, Anam Cara offers support to bereaved families at anamcara.ie.
Report card description: Three people died on Irish roads between 26 and 28 July 2026, in separate collisions in Clare, Tipperary, and Meath. The deaths bring our year-to-date tally to 101, running somewhat ahead of the same point last year.