A young woman was celebrating landing her dream job with friends before all five were killed in a car crash.
Chloe McGee, 23, from Carrickmacross, had just secured a permanent teaching position before the fatal crash in County Louth, Ireland, shortly after 9pm on Saturday.
Shay Duffy, 21, Alan McCluskey, 23, Dillon Commins, 23, and Chloe Hipson, 21, also died in the crash.
The group are believed to have been headed into town for a night out when the Volkswagen Golf they were travelling in collided with a Toyota Landcruiser.
A sixth person who was in the car, also in his 20s, is still in hospital being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Ms McGee had just secured her dream job as a teacher at the Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education in Dundalk.
She had been ‘celebrating’ her new role, which was a ‘big thing’ for her, the school’s principal Padraig McGovern told RTE.
‘I was speaking with Chloe on Friday and she was full of fun. She was full of achievement and success and looking forward to the weekend and within 24 hours that changed, changed drastically.’
Chloe McGee, 23, from from Carrickmacross, had just secured her dream job before the tragic car crash
Chloe Hipson, 21, from Lanarkshire in Scotland, died in the fatal collision on Saturday night
Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath, was one of three young men to die in the accident
Chloe had been working as a woodwork and graphics teacher at the school in Dundalk.
Mr McGovern added: ‘To think that we’re going to school today and she won’t be there is an incredible shock.
‘And to convey that to students, to young people who find it difficult to process something, or even more difficult than we do, is just a major challenge.’
Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said a ‘veil of deep sadness’ has come over the country, while Irish police described the incident as ‘shocking and devastating’.
President Catherine Connolly added: ‘I am thinking of them, their families and of those injured.
‘May I acknowledge also all those first responders who have worked to support all involved.’
All five tragically died at the scene of the crash. A man and woman from the other vehicle were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, for treatment.
Speaking near the scene on Sunday, Superintendent Charlie Armstrong said: ‘Yesterday evening, just after 9pm, there was a serious road traffic collision involving two vehicles, a Volkswagen Golf and a Toyota Landcruiser.
Shay Duffy, 21, from Carrickmacross, also lost his life in the tragedy on Saturday night
Dillon Commins, 23, from Drumconrath, was one of five involved in the fatal incident on Saturday
Irish police at the scene on the L3168 just outside Dundalk, Co Louth, where three men and two women aged in their 20s died following a road traffic collision
‘Five occupants of the Volkswagen Golf, three males and two females, all in their early 20s, are deceased at the scene.’
He said family liaison officers have been appointed to each of the families and gardai will keep them updated.
Mr Armstrong said: ‘I want to express my condolences and sympathies and the sympathies of every member of An Garda Siochana to the families of the five young adults who lost their lives yesterday evening in this road traffic collision.
‘Last night members of An Garda Siochana, supported by other emergency services including Dundalk Fire Brigade, HSE paramedics and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, initiated a major incident response.
‘The scene here on the L3168, Gibstown, remains closed today and a technical and forensic examination is being carried out by An Garda Siochana forensic collision investigators.’
He said post-mortem examinations would be carried out.
Mr Armstrong added: ‘I want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to my colleagues in An Garda Siochana and the other emergency services who attended the scene last night.
‘The scene was very difficult, in adverse weather conditions, and the professionalism shown by all first responders and the care and respect shown to the five deceased was exemplary.
‘This tragedy, with the loss of five young adults will have a deep impact on families and local communities in Carrickmacross, Dromconrath and in Scotland.
‘This is a shocking, devastating event for these families, their communities and the community here in Dundalk.
‘I want to take the opportunity to appeal to any person with any information on this road traffic collision to contact the investigation team at Dundalk Garda Station.
‘I am appealing to any person who was on the L3168 between 8.30pm and 9.15pm, last night Saturday November 15 2025, to contact the Garda investigation team.
Three males and two females, all in their early 20s, tragically died at the scene of the crash
An investigation has been launched into the accident on the L3168 at Gibstown, Co Louth
‘I am appealing to any person who might have any camera footage or images from the L3168, Gibstown area, between 8.30pm and 9.15pm on Saturday night, to give that footage or images to the investigation team at Dundalk Garda Station.
‘The investigation team can be contacted at Dundalk Garda station on 042 9388400, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.’
He added: ‘Finally, I once again want to express my sympathies to the families of the five young people who lost their lives yesterday evening.’
Tanaiste Mr Harris said: ‘My thoughts, and I know the thoughts of people right across our country, are with the families of those who have lost loved ones, their friends, and their communities.
‘We keep them in our prayers and in our thoughts now and in the time ahead. I also want to pay tribute to the emergency services.
‘One cannot even imagine the extraordinarily difficult and tragic circumstances in which they found themselves working as they set about trying to help in the most harrowing of situations.’