A father of one, who was well known in Limerick rugby and Clare GAA circles, died when his minibus struck a bridge on the Limerick-Clare border early on Sunday morning.
The man, named locally as Darren Ryan (30), from Meelick, Co Clare, was a popular minibus contractor.
Mr Ryan died after the minibus he was driving collided with Athlunkard Bridge in Corbally at around 2.55am on Sunday morning.
Gardaí said Mr Ryan’s body was removed from the scene to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will be conducted.
The R463 between St Munchins College secondary school and Shannon Banks, Corbally, remained closed on Sunday as a technical examination of the scene was carried out.
On Sunday afternoon, the bus which was lying on its side on one of two traffic lanes on the bridge as gardaí examined the debris, was winched by a crane onto a recovery truck and tank to a compound to be further examined by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.
Gardaí appealed for witnesses or road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) to make it available to investigating gardaí at Henry Street Garda station in Limerick City.
One of triplet boys, Mr Ryan, along with his brothers Evan and Gavin, played rugby for St Munchins RFC and Young Munster RFC, while he also played GAA for Meelick.
'Nicest fella'
“Darren was the nicest fella. He would have been very involved in St Munchins College rugby team. His family are a very talented...they’ve all been high achievers, they’d be inspirational local people,” a family friend said.
“They are a very well known rugby family, a big ‘Young Munster’s’ family and very involved in the Meelick GAA club.”
“Darren was very fit, a great athlete, he would have played sports all his life, particularly rugby where he played in the forwards.
“Their buses would be on the road the whole time, bringing people in and out of Limerick City.”
Darren Ryan had also been operating a transport service for stag and hen parties, and had recently started transporting people on camping breaks.
“He was a fabulous fella, you couldn't meet nicer. It’s devastating, just shocking,” the friend said.
Mr Ryan is survived by his partner and young son, Raemie, parents Trish and Ray, sister Dawn, and brothers Evan and Gavin.
