Tributes are being paid to a father of six who died in an early morning crash in Offaly yesterday.

Musician Paddy Buckley is believed to have died when his car went into a flooded field at the Grand Canal near the village of Pollagh.

A post mortem is expected to be carried out on the 38 year old's remains and Tullamore Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

Mr Buckley was the 11th person to die on the country's roads in eight days - the youngest was just seven years old.

Gardai and the Road Safety Authority are said to be concerned about the number of road deaths over the Christmas period and have renewed calls for motorists to slow down, and never drink and drive. 

Local Cllr Eamonn Dooley says Paddy was a well liked musician: