Update 1pm: The second woman killed in yesterday evening’s road accident has been named as Kathy McDonald.

The 70-year-old who was out walking with her first cousin, Josie Duff, when both were hit by a car after getting off the bus on the N2 Dublin to Derry road south of Ardee.

Parish Priest of Ardee, Canon Peter Murphy had this to say about the two well-loved parishioners.

He said: “Both of them are from very nice, very good familes and would be well-known and active around the parish.

“It’s really so tragic and such a heartbreak for their immediate family and for the wider family of the whole parish and community here in Ardee.”

Earlier:

One of the two women who lost their lives in a tragic road accident on the Dublin to Ardee Road in Co Louth last night has been named locally as Josie Duff, 79.

The pair were struck by a car at around 6.30pm while trying to cross the road near Huntstown. Both were declared dead at the scene.

The driver of the car was uninjured.

Gardaí say a section of the road will remain closed until this afternoon at least.

LOUTH: N2 expected to remain closed at Hunterstown until approx. 2pm following a fatal collision there last night. Diversions in place.

— AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) January 17, 2017

The area has been sealed off for a forensic examination.

Local Councillor Dolores Minogue expressed her sympathies with the families.

“I’d just like to give my deepest sympathy to all families involved in this tragic accident,” she said.

“The community’s very much in shock, and will be in weeks and months to come.”