His love of the motor industry was noted at his funeral Mass in St Asicus' Church this morning, with keys to his van, a mobile phone and a screwdriver among the gifts brought up.

His funeral Mass is taking place at 11am in St Asicus' Church, Frenchpark, with burial afterwards in Tibohine new cemetery.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

He ran a successful tyre business in the area and was highly regarded throughout the region.

A post mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow in Galway University Hospital and the coroner has been notified.

He was working on the family farm on Sheepwalk, Frenchpark, when a tyre exploded.

Long-awaited safety works have now completed at the junction in Frenchpark which had been considered an accident blackspot.

It was expected earlier this week that the lights would be completed ahead of the busy Bank Holiday weekend.