The CEO of Bus Éireann has said she is "devastated" after one of their bus drivers was killed following a crash involving a bus, a lorry and a car in County Meath.
Jean O'Sullivan said "the loss of a colleague is a shock to everyone across Bus Éireann", after the driver, who was in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A lorry driver, who was in his 40s, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman driving the car, who is in her 40s, and a teenage girl, who was a passenger in the car, have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Ms O'Sullivan added: "Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and colleagues of our Bus Éireann driver who has sadly lost his life, and with the family and friends of the driver of the other vehicle who also passed away."
She said many co-workers are "devastated".
"Our thoughts are also with the other driver's family, with our passengers and with the occupants of the third vehicle who have been injured and are receiving care in hospital," Ms O'Sullivan added.
"At Bus Éireann, safety is our highest priority, and we of course are cooperating with the relevant authorities. We remain committed to supporting all those affected and assisting the authorities in every way we can."
Emergency services and Bus Éireann personnel remain at the scene.
The Irish Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, said he was saddened by the "tragic" crash and paid tribute to the emergency services who attended the scene.
"People are genuinely extremely shocked to hear this awful news this morning," O'Brien told RTÉ News.
The collision happened on the R132 in Gormanston on Monday at about 06:30 local time.
A number of other people were taken to hospital for injuries which are believed to be non-life threatening.
Peter Brady, who is a member of the Gormanston Community Association and lives close to the scene of the crash, said he heard a "thudding" noise at around 06:00 on Monday.
"I did hear a kind of a thudding sound and actually got up to see what had happened," he told BBC News NI.
"Then I heard the emergency services and I knew that something was up, but I didn't know exactly where it was,"
He said emergency services arrived "very quickly" and the community had rallied to help them do their work.
"We have to thank our emergency services always for the great work that they do at tragic events like this and the guards [police] that have been manning all the checkpoints.
"We've been talking to them and offering them tea and coffee."
Mr Brady said the "whole community is shocked and really saddened".
Local Senator Sharon Keogan said people living nearby heard sirens early on Monday.
"The locals were hearing those awful sounds that nobody wants to hear," she told BBC News NI.
"It's a Monday morning, people are on their way to work, they're on their way to college, they're starting a new week and no-one ever expects something like that to happen".
"My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected this morning," she continued.
In a statement, Meath County Council extended sympathies to the grieving families, adding: "Our thoughts also remain with the injured and anyone impacted by this tragedy."
The council also acknowledged the work of the "fire service, An Garda Síochána, the ambulance service, and all first responders to this devastating event".
Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O'Rourke, told RTÉ: "This shocking news comes just over a week after the devastating crash that took the lives of five young people in Dundalk.
"I know our local communities will rally around in support of those involved in the collision and their families, who no doubt will be in a complete state of shock at this time.
"We must stand in solidarity with the families during this devastating time."
Also speaking to RTÉ, Fianna Fáil councillor Stephen McKee paid tribute to gardaí and emergency services.
"It is a very dark day for the Meath East community," he said.
Gardaí (Irish police) have appealed for anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward.
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