A retired clergyman has died after the car he was driving got caught in floods on Achill Island in Co Mayo last night.

The incident happened near Doogort on the northern side of Achill Island at around 10pm.

Roger Grainger, 81, had moved to the area from England and was working as a counselling psychologist in the Mayo area.

Efforts by locals to reach his car were unsuccessful and they had to wait for the emergency services to arrive.

Dr Grainger, a retired Anglican cleric in the Wakefield diocese in West Yorkshire, moved to Ireland several years ago with his late wife Doreen.

He was returning from dinner with friends in Keel when torrential rain caused a flash flood near his home.

Dr Grainger also worked as a hospital chaplain and with mental health patients and also as psychotherapist and counsellor supporting people who had suffered trauma or emotional problems.

He also trained as an actor at Rada and took to the stage at the Old Vic and had small roles in dramas such as 'Heartbeat', 'Emmerdale' and 'Last of the Summer Wine'

His most recent role was an an elderly patient in last year's BBC mini-series 'Remember Me' starring Michael Palin.

Local Church of Ireland Rev Val Rogers, and close friend of Dr Grainger, said: "He was a most affectionate man and an utterly gregarious person.

"Anyone around Keel would have known him, he was getting involved in local groups, he liked creative writing, he was a prolific author of anything to do with trauma therapy and liturgy drama, that intersection between healing and liturgy and faith.

"He was always interested in people. The parishioners are very, very distressed."

Dr Grainger's body was removed to Mayo General Hospital for a post-mortem examination and gardaí are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

The crossroads at the Strand in Doogort which was closed for a time after the fatal crash, has since reopened.

Several roads in the area were said to be in a dangerous condition following another night of rain and motorists were being advised to drive with caution.

Roads remain very wet in parts of western coastal counties and there is a Status Yellow rainfall warning in place for Munster, Wexford and Galway.

The N59 Letterfrack/Leenaun Road at Kylemore is impassable due to flooding and gardaí have advised motorists to avoid the area.