'A great community person': Tributes to Mayo teacher, 28, killed in Sligo crash

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the fatal impact which killed James McNeive. Picture: Facebook

Tributes have been paid to a 28-year-old primary school teacher from Co Mayo who died following a collision in Sligo over the weekend. 

James McNeive, who was originally from Knock, died following a collision involving a van and a lorry in Drumcliffe on Sunday. 

Mr McNeive was an accomplished footballer and played regularly with the Aghamore GAA team over the years.

Predeceased by his father, he is survived by his mother, Bernadette (Bernie) and two younger brothers, Michael and Matthew.

Local councillor Paul Lawless, a friend and teammate, described Mr McNeive as a great community and club man.

“He loved the physical side of the game, never shirked from a challenge on the field,” Mr Lawless said.

“He was a lovely fellow but not the sort you would like as a footballer to be marking. James was also a great community person."

Mr Lawless said there had been "a huge sense of loss in Knock and Aughamore" since the news broke.

“James was big into physical fitness. He had a tremendous work ethic”.

Mr McNeive worked as a schoolteacher in Dublin. He is understood to have been working this summer as an organiser for school summer camps in the west and north-west region.

An autopsy is to be carried out at Sligo University Hospital before the remains are released for burial.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the fatal impact.

They are also seeking road users with camera footage, including dashcam footage, who were travelling between Drumcliffe and Grange at the time of the collision to make it available.

Anyone with information can contact Sligo Garda Station at 071 915 7000, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Mr McNeive was the second person to die on Irish roads on Saturday after a cyclist was killed in Dublin. 

The man, aged in his 60s, was killed in a single-vehicle incident that occurred at about 2pm on Sunday on the Ticknock Road.

The two incidents bring to 115 the number of deaths on Irish roads to far in 2024 — 15 more than the total recorded at this point in 2023.