Man, 60s, who died in Mayo collision was one of the last residents of Inishbiggle Island
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A man who was one of the last residents of an island off the Co Mayo coast has died following a road traffic incident on the island.
Christy Henry, who was in his 60s, was pronounced dead after a car veered off the road and entered a lake on Inishbiggle Island on Friday.
The island lies between Achill Island and the Ballycroy mainland in Co Mayo.
Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of the tragedy.
Achill Coastguard and the Rescue 118 helicopter were tasked to the scene at around 8.30pm. Two ambulance crews also attended the scene along with a local doctor and a number of islanders.
Mr Henry was pronounced dead a short time later.
His body has since been removed from the scene to the mortuary at Mayo University Hospital. An autopsy is due to take place.
The scene remains preserved for a technical examination to be carried out by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.
Mr Henry, like his now deceased parents Paddy and Brid (known as Baby), was an activist for the survival of the tiny outpost.
In the 1980s, the Henry family campaigned unsuccessfully for the provision of a hovercraft service from the island to Bullsmouth on Achill Island.
In 1988 he participated in an RTÉ television programme, , which documented his emigration from the island due to the lack of local employment.
Following Mr Henry’s death, there are now only eleven residents on Inishbiggle Island, a sharp plunge from a peak of 162 recorded in 1926.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have information in relation to this collision to contact them at Westport Garda Station on 098 50230, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.