A toddler has died after he was struck by a car in the driveway of a private dwelling, leaving a community in shock.
The 18-month-old boy was in the driveway of a house in Tralispean in rural west Cork when the car struck him, gardai have confirmed.
Four fire brigade crews, as well as ambulance crews and gardai were called to the scene just after 5pm on Tuesday.
The toddler was transferred by ambulance to Cork University Hospital (CUH) but died shortly afterwards.
Curate of Skibbereen parish Fr Evin O’Brien said news of the tragedy was only filtering through the community late into the night.
“It is so, so tragic,” Fr O’Brien said.
“My sincere condolences to his family.
“They are all in my thoughts and prayers. It is heartbreaking and a tragic start to the new year in Skibbereen.”
A local politician said there are "no words" to comprehend the tragedy.
“There are no words to comprehend it,” Cllr Karen Coakley said.
“My thoughts and sympathy are with his family. I saw the emergency services go through the town earlier and I knew then something serious had happened.
“It is devastating,”
Gardai confirmed emergency services were called to a private dwelling just after 5pm in Tralispean in Skibbereen, west Cork.
"An 18-month-old boy was struck by a car in the driveway of a private dwelling,” a garda spokesperson confirmed.
“He was brought to Cork University Hospital but has since passed away.”
An investigation is being launched by gardai. However, the incident is being treated as a tragic accident.
