A young man who died when his car plunged into a tidal river which feeds into Clew Bay in Co Mayo in the early hours of Saturday morning has been named.
David Walsh (27), from Burrishoole, near Newport, worked as a chef at a Westport hotel.
The young footballer is the second person in a decade to drown in such circumstances at Newport Pier.
In 2013, a 33-year-old woman died close to the same location when her car went over a low harbour wall into the river estuary.
Following the latest tragedy, there have been renewed calls for extra crash protection barriers at the location.
Mr Walsh was alone when his vehicle veered off the slip road and into the estuary. A passing jogger raised the alarm some hours later after spotting the partly submerged car in the water.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but it was too late to save the driver who was dead when taken from the vehicle.
Fr Tod Nolan, parish priest of Newport, said on Sunday the news had come as a tremendous shock for the town of Newport and the community of nearby Burrishoole where the deceased grew up.
He described what happened as “an awful tragedy”.
Michael Holmes, a Mulranny based member of Mayo County Council, joined in the expressions of sympathy.
“The Walshs are a highly thought of family”, he said.
Mr Walsh played Gaelic for the Burrishoole Club and his talents as a footballer were well regarded.
As a mark of respect, all weekend activities involving the club were postponed including a Lotto draw and a home game on Sunday with Islandeady in the Mayo intermediate championship.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalised.