Tommy Reilly, of Drumavaddy in the parish of Denn, was killed in the single-vehicle collision on a road in Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy.
It is understood he was transporting a tractor to a Bank Holiday charity tractor run.
He was pronounced dead at the scene before his remains were removed to Cavan Monaghan General Hospital. A post-mortem is due to take place.
Tributes have been paid to the “family man” and father aged in his early 30s.
“I know that he was a young man and he has a couple of young children,” said independent Cavan county councillor Shane O’Reilly.
It is a terrible tragedy in a small rural community
“It’s a very tragic event. There’s very little being talked about because I think it’s just very shocking for the whole community.”
He added: “He’s only married a couple of years, and it was just a total freak accident.”
Fine Gael councillor Trevor Smith said the accident is a big shock to the area.
“It is a terrible tragedy in a small rural community. He’s a young family man.”
He was pronounced dead at the scene. (Brian Lawless/PA)
News in 90 Seconds – May 4th 2026
He continued: “His family are very involved and well-known in the local parish of Denn community. My thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Gardaí are looking to the public for further information relating to the crash.
“Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on a local road in Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy, Co. Cavan on Sunday 3rd May 2026,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“Shortly before 12:40pm, Gardaí and emergency services responded to a single vehicle collision involving a tractor on a local road in Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy, Co. Cavan.
“A male driver (aged in his 30s) was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“His body has since been removed to Cavan Monaghan General Hospital and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
“Garda Forensic Collision investigators attended the scene and an examination took place.
“Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward.
“Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage and were travelling in the area between 9:00am and 12:40pm are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cavan Garda Station on (049) 436 8800, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
Separately and on the same day, a pedal cyclist aged in his 50s died in Co Laois after he collided with a railing on College Avenue, Mountmellick.
He was removed from the scene to Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.
He was receiving treatment there before passing away on Sunday night.
A post mortem is due to take place and a technical examination of the scene by Garda forensic collision investigators was conducted.
“Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“Gardaí are also appealing for any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area at the time of the collision to make this footage available to Gardaí.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on (057) 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
Meanwhile, a woman who was hit by a bus in Terenure, south Dublin a month ago died from her injuries in Beaumont Hospital on Friday.
Fiona Holland (48), a teacher who lived in Terenure with her husband and three daughters, was struck by the vehicle on Monday, April 6 at Terenure Cross.
She was brought straight to Beaumont Hospital where she remained until her passing on Friday.
Green Party Councillor for Kimmage-Rathmines, Carolyn Moore, described the news as “absolutely devastating” for her family and the village of Terenure and said Fiona was “very well known in the community”.
Mr Moore, along with other local councillors, has been campaigning for safer access to the junction she says has always been “hostile to pedestrians”.
“We’re told it’s going to be made safer with BusConnects, but at the same time, nobody can actually tell us when BusConnected is going to be delivered.”
Labour councillor for the area, Fiona Connelly, expressed her sorrow at the “unthinkable loss” of Fiona.
“I’m saddened to hear of her loss for the whole community and in particular for the school community where she worked.”
She echoed Cllr Moore’s calls for safer crossing in Terenure village, describing the junction where the fatality occurred as “so unsafe” and “impossible to cross”.
“There are no pedestrian crossings on two arms of the junction.”
“Without four way pedestrian crossing at the village it will remain an extremely dangerous junction,” she added, calling for “enhanced safety measures” to avoid a reoccurrence “as matter of priority”.
After this Bank Holiday weekend, the death toll on Irish roads in 2026 stands at 57.