Five people lost their lives in two separate car crashes that occurred at the spot near Rathoe exactly a year apart from each other on 31 January 2024 and 2025.

CARLOW County Council has been given the green light from An Coimisiún Pleanála for improvements to be made on a stretch of road on the N80 where several fatal accidents have occurred.

CARLOW Co Council is ‘optimistically hoping’ that An Bord Pleanála will approve its plans for improving a stretch of road on the N81, known as Leagh Bends, where a number of fatal crashes have occurred.

This work needs to be done "so that the people of Carlow do not have to wake up ever again to the dreadful reality of another death, another road death at Leagh Bends"