Catriona Dowling, pictured left with hand on shoulder of student, "was a warm, caring person and all her pupils are also especially upset by the news"

The single vehicle crash occurred on the Ballyduff to Tralee route at Ballincosig Cross, Lixnaw, shortly before 9am on Saturday

Four people have lost their lives on Irish roads over the weekend.

The collisions occured in separate road collisions in Kerry, Dublin, Westmeath and Wexford.

A "kind and loving" mother-of-three died after her car skidded on black ice and crashed into a fence.

Catriona Dowling's two teenage daughters narrowly escaped serious injury when the vehicle careered off a straight stretch of road in north Kerry.

The single vehicle crash occurred on the Ballyduff to Tralee route at Ballincosig Cross, Lixnaw, shortly before 9am on Saturday.

The 50-year-old was a teacher at Presentation Secondary School in Tralee. Originally from Dublin, she had been living in Ballyduff for over 25 years.

"She was the main German teacher in the school, and two of the most important things in her life were family and teaching. Those that knew her would say she was a very hands-on mother," a family friend told the Irish Independent.

"Outside of work, she enjoyed going on long walks, and over the years she helped put on a lot of school plays. She was an extremely friendly and kind lady and was very well liked by all her students.

"She was on the way to Tralee at the time. The road is dead straight and there aren't any bends or sharp turns - but local gardai said black ice was to blame," the family friend said.

He said both daughters, aged 17 and 18, are believed to have suffered "minor injuries" in the crash. "One daughter looks set to be discharged from hospital today. Thankfully, her 16-year-old son was not in the car at the time," he added.

It is understood her husband, Michael, works as an official with Kerry County Council in the housing division.

Fr Brendan Walsh, parish priest of Ballyduff, said: "She was a warm, caring person and all her pupils are also especially upset by the news."

Meanwhile a 44-year-old motorcyclist was killed when his vehicle collided with a car on the Ballymount Road Lower in Walkinstown, Dublin, yesterday afternoon. He was taken by ambulance to Tallaght Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Separately, a woman (24) has died in hospital from injuries sustained when she was struck by a car in Glasson Village in Co Westmeath at 8am on Wednesday. She died in Beaumont Hospital on Friday evening.

And in Co Wexford, a 94-year-old man died after the car in which he was travelling crashed.

An 80-year-old woman who was driving the vehicle was also injured in the three car collision.

A 27-year-old woman and a four-year-old girl travelling in the second car were also taken to hospital for their injuries, although they are not believed to be life-threatening.

Passengers in the third car escaped serious injury.

The collision occured on a minor road at Gurteenminogue Lower, Murrintown, Co Wexford, at approximately 4.45pm.

The 94-year-old victim, who has not been named, was rushed to Wexford General Hospital a short time later but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Irish Independent