Tributes are being paid to five young people who lost their lives in a road crash in Dundalk in Co Louth.

Those who died have been named as Chloe McGee (23), from Carickmacross; Alan McCluskey (23) from Drumconrath; Dylan Commins (23) from Ardee; Shay Duffy (21), from Carrickmacross; and Chloe Hipson (21), from Lanarkshire in Scotland.

The three men and two women died after their Volkswagen Golf collided with another car on the L3168 Ardee Road, shortly after 9pm on Saturday.

Forensic teams have carried out examinations and searches over the weekend.

Superintendent Charlie Armstrong of Dundalk Garda Station is urging witnesses to come forward.

"I'm appealing to any person who was on the L3168 between 8:30 pm and 9:15 pm last Saturday the 15th of November to contact the Garda investigation team".

Friends (clockwise from top left): Chloe McGee, 23; Alan McCluskey, 23; Chloe Hipson, 21; Shay Duffy, 21; and Dylan Commins, 23, died in the crash

The parish priest in Drumconrath, Fr Finnian Connaughton, knew some of those who died.

"We are as a community grieving so severely, but I'm conscious of the fact that we are one of five families who are suffering the same grief at this particular time.

"So I'd offer my condolence and sympathy to them, but our community here, absolutely, it's beyond description".

Padraig McGovern, Principal of Ó Fiaich College in Dundalk, where Chloe McGee worked, said the school community is heartbroken.

"She loved fun. She had a great sense of humor.

"She was involved in everything in the school, a real part and parcel of the school, and loved working with her students".