The four young victims of the road crash in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, have been named this afternoon. 

Brother and sister Luke and Grace McSweeney, aged 24 and 18, along with Nicole Murphy and Zoey Coffey, both aged 18, died in the single-car collision on Mountain Road at roughly 7.30pm last night.

Garda Superintendent Ruane said the local communities in Cloneml, Kilsheelan and Ballypatrick are “shocked and deeply saddened” by their deaths.  

Grace McSweeney (18) and Luke McSweeney (24), two victims of the crash in Clonmel, 26/08/2023. Image via An Garda Síochána.

“I want to assure our local communities that An Garda Síochána is here over the coming days, weeks and months to support our communities as we all come to terms with this tragedy,” he said.

"I have been in contact with the principals of the local secondary schools that the girls attended and supports are being put in place for the friends of all four deceased today and over the next few days."

Nicole Murphy (18) and Zoey Coffey (18), victims of the crash in Clonmel, 26/08/2023. Images via An Garda Síochána.

Mr Ruane thanked emergency services at the scene of the crash for the "care and respect shown to the four victims".

"We all remember our Leaving Cert night - it's a significant event in our lives" he said.

"For the members to arrive and quickly realise that there were three Leaving Cert students and her brother at the scene and unfortunately all were dead was a very traumatic scene for everybody."

The scene of the road crash in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, where four young people died, 26/08/2023. Image: Aoife Kearns for Newstalk

Tributes have poured in from across Ireland for the victims and their loved ones since the crash last night.

Education Minister Norma Foley said "the whole nation mourns them".

“School communities in Ireland are akin to tight-knit families,” she said.

“I know this morning that staff, students, parents and guardians will be united in their grief and utter devastation at this tragic and sudden loss of life.”