‘To think we’re going to school today and she won’t be there’

The principal of the college where one of the young people who died in a road crash in the Republic of Ireland taught, said it is a “major challenge” to convey what has happened to the students.

Chloe McGee, 23, and Shay Duffy, 21, both from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath, County Meath; Dylan Commins, 23, from Ardee, County Louth, and Chloe Hipson, 21, from Lanarkshire in Scotland were killed on the Ardee Road at Gibstown, near Dundalk, just after 21:00 (local time) on Saturday.

They were travelling in a car which collided with another vehicle.

Three others – two men and a woman – are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Chloe McGee was a teacher at O’Fiaich College in Dundalk and the principal described her as “vivacious”, “a lovely girl”, and a “master of her craft”.

“On Friday, like every other day, Chloe was around the corridors and looking forward to the weekend and working with her students – all smiles, all laughs,” Padraig McGovern told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme.

“To think we’re going into 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.”

North Motherwell Football Club also paid tribute to Chloe Hipson who was the younger sister of one of the club’s players.

In a post on social media, the club said the Hipson family “have always held a special place in the hearts of everyone at NMFC and are very much still part of our football family”.

They sent their “deepest condolences” to the family “at this life shattering time”.

The club will host a one minutes silence in memory of Chloe and to show their support for the Hipson family.

Speaking at the scene on Sunday Supt Charlie Armstrong said: “This is a shocking, devastating event for these families, their communities and the community here in Dundalk.”

Supt Charlie Armstrong, said gardaí are investigating all the circumstances of the crash.

“Just after 21:00 there was a serious road traffic collision involving two vehicles, a Volkswagen Golf and a Toyota Land Cruiser.

“Five occupants of the Volkswagen Golf, three males and two females all in their early 20s, were deceased at the scene.”

Supt Armstrong said another occupant of the Volkswagen Golf, a male in his 20s, was removed and brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, for treatment of serious non-life-threatening injuries.

“The two occupants of the second vehicle, a male and a female, were also taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, for medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.”

On Sunday the Irish President Catherine Connolly said she was “deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of five precious young lives”.

She 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.”

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said he is “numbed and shocked at the horrific road crash”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these young people, and those injured.

“We also think of our first responders, who worked so professionally in truly devastating circumstances.”

Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said: “A veil of deep sadness and shock has come over our country this morning.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it was an “absolutely shocking tragedy”, adding that her thoughts are with their family and friends as well as the emergency workers who attended the scene.