Three friends who died in a horrific single car crash in Co Carlow on Wednesday night are to be laid to rest next week.
Daryl Culbert (21) from Eagle View, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, died alongside his friends, Michael Kelly (25) from An Mainteach, Newtown Road, Nurney, Co Carlow and Katie Graham (19) from Ballinagall, Ballickmoyler.
The crash happened on the Carlow/Laois border when the Lexus car they were travelling in skidded after heavy rain in the townland of Leagh, between Graiguenaspiddoge and Kelllistown, around 5km from Carlow town at around 11.30pm on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Heartbreaking tributes paid to 'lovely' 21 year-old motorsport enthusiast killed in Carlow crash
A fourth occupant, Nathan Kelly, who is in his 20s and is from Ballinabranagh, Co Carlow, was seriously injured, rushed by paramedics to St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny and has subsequently been transferred to the Mater Hospital in Dublin. His injuries are described by gardaí as not life threatening.
The bodies of the three young people were brought to University Hospital Waterford, where post-mortem examinations will be performed today.
The car was travelling in the direction of Carlow town as it is understood they were travelling to the Circle K garage in Rathcrogue, where other car enthusiasts sometimes meet.
The funeral masses of Mr Culbert and Ms Graham are to be held on Monday. Mr Culbert was a trainee mechanic and was a well-known car enthusiast and rally driver.
His remains will be arriving at St Peter’s Church, Kiltegan on Monday, February 5 for 2pm Funeral Service, after which he will be laid to rest in the adjoining churchyard.
His funeral notice on rip.ie reads: “(Suddenly) predeceased by his grandad Ted and nanny Ruby (Glynn). Sadly missed by his heartbroken parents Trevor and Heather, sisters Chloe and Amy, grandmother Joan, grandad Albert, uncles Nigel, Ivan, James, Philip and David, aunts Janet, Alison, Deirdre, Nicola and Carolyn, cousins, neighbours and many friends.”
Mr Culbert’s sister Chole paid tribute to her brother, describing how “life will never be the same” without him and hoped he would “rest easy”. The young man graduated from Kilkenny College Secondary School in 2020.
Ms Graham, who was studying to become a primary school teacher, will be reposing at her residence tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon from 3pm until 8pm with Rosary at 7pm. Removal on Monday morning to arrive at The Church of the Sacred Heart, Arles for Requiem Mass at 11am followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
The teenager was predeceased by her brother Noel Jnr. and her grandparents Síle and Noel. She is survived by her parents Damien and Breda, sister Laura, grandparents Andy and Mary Hosey, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and many, many friends.
A condolence message on rip.ie described her as “beautiful”.
“Rest in peace, beautiful Katie. Taken way too soon with so much life left to live and experience. My deepest condolences to your parents, sister, grandparents and your wide circle of friends at this heartbreaking event. My heart goes out to you all, I hope memories of Katie will help give you strength.”
Mr Kelly, an electrician, was predeceased by his father Michael and will be laid to rest following his Requiem Mass on Tuesday at St Brigid’s Church, Hacketstown at 1pm. He will be laid to rest with his grandparents in Hacketstown Cemetery.
“His funeral notice details: “Predeceased by his loving dad Michael, grandparents Mick (Kelly) and Peg and Bill (Byrne). Sadly missed by his heartbroken mother Rita, brother Jordan, girlfriend Sasha, uncles, aunts, cousins and close friends.”
A cousin of Mr Kelly’s said in a condolence message that she was "devastated to lose him".
“Taken from us way too soon, cousin Mike. Devastated to lose you. Sending all the love and strength we can to Aunty Rita and Jordan as they come to terms with it all.”
His younger brother Jordan, speaking to RTÉ News on Friday, revealed: “Everyone that met Mike just loved him so much.”
He described Michael as a very quiet person who “had a sense of glow about him” when he was with his family and friends.
“From my own point of view, he was a very good big brother to me. He was a role model. He didn’t drink. All he cared about was his family and he loved his cars. I think from a very young age, we could see that cars were his calling,” Jordan added.
A number of lines of investigation are being followed by gardaí as to what may have caused the crash and they are continuing to appeal for information.
Garda Superintendent Anthony Farrell described the accident scene as one of the “most severe" he has attended in his 25 years of service. "It was really, really traumatic,” he said.
The latest deaths bring to 19 the number who have lost their lives on the nation’s roads since the start of the year, compared to 21 for the same period in 2023.
In a statement, gardaí said: “Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N80 at Leagh between 11.15pm and midnight are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.
“Emergency services remain at the scene and gardaí are appealing for any information to contact Carlow garda station on 059-9136620, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
Meanwhile, a second crash along the same stretch of road where the three friends lost their lives occurred at 7.20pm on Friday. The two-vehicle crash occurred at Templepeter, Co Carlow, between Kellistown and Graiguenaspiddogue, close to the Fighting Cocks pub and restaurant.
Several people have lost their lives along the N80, which links Rosslare Europort to the M9/M10 motorway.
The road has been described as a notorious black spot for crashes by local councillors, with plans by Carlow County Council to upgrade it having been in train for several years.
Design consultants Roadplan made a presentation to county councillors about the road in 2021.
“Leagh Bends has a poor collision history,” the group said. “It has been identified as an area of a high number of accidents. It’s [the works] to bring the road to a state where it can accommodate traffic at 100km/h.”
A report by the National Oversight and Audit Commission, which is the oversight body for the local government sector, described the stretch of road as “deficient in both width and adjustment”.
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