A young male pedestrian was killed in a road accident in Co Carlow this morning.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to two car crashes in counties Carlow and Mayo, in which one man died and three young people remain criticaly ill.

Gardaí in Co Kildare are investigating an arson attack on a house in Athy this evening.

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley has been urged to provide emergency funding to rural areas badly affected by the weather crisis in an attempt to prevent needless deaths across the country.

A post mortem is due to be carried out today following the discovery of a woman's body near Carlow town yesterday.