Mayo tragedy as US tourist, 87, dies in road accident on Achill Island

Michael Gallagher, a tourist from San Francisco, has been named as the man who was killed in a road accident on Achill Island off the coast of Co Mayo on Sunday, June 30.

Announcing the incident, Gardaí said on Sunday that they were investigating a fatal single-vehicle road traffic collision involving a quad bike at about 1:45 pm that day.

The collision occurred on the road to Purteen Harbour, off the R319 near Keel, Achill Island, Co Mayo.

The driver of the quad bike, a male aged in his 80s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

His body was conveyed to Mayo University Hospital where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

No other injuries were reported following this collision.

Gardaí were appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were traveling in the vicinity of Keel, Achill Island, Co Mayo on Sunday, June 30, between 1 pm and 2 pm, are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 502 30, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

According to The Connaught Telegraph, Gallagher, 87, had connections to the area of Achill and was on a "nostalgic" visit.

Mayo Live reported that Gallagher was staying in the locality with a local family and had borrowed the quad bike shortly before the accident occurred.

On social media, a cousin of Gallagher's wrote he "loved traveling, especially Ireland since he was 20 years old."

One local man told the Irish Independent that the incident was "terribly sad."

“People are very shocked and troubled by this," the man said.

"It’s terribly sad and shocking.

“Achill has seen more than its fair share of tragedy.”