Brian Cronin died when the car he was driving hit a tree at Headford on Saturday night. His death came just hours after another young dad died in a crash in Co Longford
Brian Cronin who was killed in a road accident in Kerry
Tributes have been to this young dad who lost his life in a late-night road crash in rural Co Kerry.
The victim was named locally as Brian Cronin, who was 37.
He died in the single-vehicle accident near Headford, around 13kms east of Killarney, on Saturday night.
Mr Cronin was originally from Rathmore in Co Kerry, but was living in Knocknagree, just over the border with Co Cork.
“He was well known down here,” one local told the Irish Mirror.
“He was very popular and everyone is shocked by the news.”
Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward. (stock image)(Image: PA)
Mr Cronin died when the car he was driving struck a tree at around 11.20pm on Saturday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, gardai said.
And they have appealed for witnesses to contact them.
The force said in a statement: “Gardaà and emergency services attended the scene of a single vehicle fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the L3013 at Knockdooragh, Headford, Co. Kerry on the night of Saturday 3rd January, 2026.
“The collision involved a single vehicle that collided with a tree and occurred at approximately 11.20pm.
“The driver of the car, a man aged in his 30s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“The road is currently closed for examination by Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place.
“Gardaà are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.”
It added: “Any road users, who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 11pm and 11:30pm last night are asked to make this footage available to investigating GardaÃ.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on 026 20590, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
He was the second young man to die on the nation’s roads in just a few hours.
On Saturday evening, Francis Kelly, 36, became the first road fatality in the Republic in 2026 when he died in a three vehicle crash in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. That accident happened at around 7pm.
Some 190 people lost their lives on Irish roads in 2025 – the highest toll in a decade.
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