A 22-year-old man from the Louisburgh area of Co Mayo has died in a road incident in Australia.
Alan Durkan, who had been working in a vineyard in Penola, Adelaide, died on Saturday evening when his 4x4 vehicle went out of control and rolled over on a dirt road. Mr Durkan was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he died later from his injuries.
He had emigrated to Australia from Louisburgh in March of last year.
News of his death has left family and neighbours in Louisburgh grief stricken.
Alan is survived by his parents Andrew and Janet (nee Walsh) and a twin brother, James. His remains are to be repatriated for burial here.
Louisburgh undertaker Peter Sweeney, a friend of the Durkan family, said yesterday the entire community was devastated by the news.
Mr Sweeney recalled that Alan had visited his family at Christmas and was especially popular in the area.
The Durkans run a family Gala supermarket in Westport. News of the tragedy reached the family late on Saturday night and the parish priest, Fr Martin Long, led prayers for the dead man in Louisburgh church on Sunday morning.