Two young sisters killed in Galway crash
Two young sisters have died after they were hit by a car on the side of a road in County Galway
The children, a two-year-old and a two-month old baby, were with their father when the collision happened near Tuam at about 13:45 BST on Sunday.
The family were walking along the hard shoulder of the main NI7 road when they were hit close to the Dunmore junction.
The children were both taken to University College Hospital, Galway, where they were pronounced dead.
Their father and the man who was driving the car were also taken to the same hospital.
They were treated for injuries which were not believed to be life threatening.
Shaun Cunniffe, a local Labour Party councillor, said the road where the accident happened was a popular route around Tuam.
"It is used by a lot of runners, joggers and walkers," he said.
"Everybody in Tuam is totally shocked and their hearts go out to these two wonderful little kids and their parents."
Irish police have said the N17 is closed near the turn-off for Dunmore pending a forensic examination of the scene.