Tributes paid to victims of latest tragedies on our roads

Young dads Francis & Brian killed within hours of each other

- BY DANNY DE VAAL and MICHAEL O'TOOLE

TRIBUTES have been paid to these two young dads - who died on the nation's roads within hours of each other.

Francis Kelly and Brian Cronin both lost their lives on Saturday evening, in separate crashes just four hours apart.

And there was also a road fatality north of the border a few hours earlier.

Mr Kelly, 36, became the first person to die on the Republic's roads in 2026 when he was the victim of a three-car collision in Co Longford at around 7pm.

Mr Cronin, 37, died at 11.20pm on the same night - in a single-vehicle crash in Co Kerry.

Both leave behind a young family.

Mr Kelly died in a horror smash on the N4 in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford shortly after 7pm.

Mr Kelly was from Longford and his partner Stephanie Nugent took to social media and posted a series of tributes.

Sharing a picture, Stephanie wrote: “Love u always and forever baby. We will always be together.”