Thomas ‘TJ’ Chambers (16) died at the scene of the single-vehicle crash on the R458 at Bunnahow, north of Crusheen, Co Clare, at 2pm on Saturday.
The local coroner was notified, and the boy’s remains were transferred to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick for post-mortem examination.
TJ, who was the only occupant of the tractor, was a talented hurler with his local team Ballyea GAA, and his death came just hours before a Tractor Run fundraiser for the club was due to take place.
The road remained closed for much of Sunday as forensic collision investigators examined the scene prior to declaring it safe to reopen.
Local people have been paying tribute to TJ, who was one of three children.
“First and foremost, my thoughts are very much with his parents and his two sisters. They’re facing an unimaginable reality,” said mayor of the Ennis municipal district, Fine Gael councillor Mary Howard.
“Last night I spoke with quite a few young people that would have known him through GAA and through school.
“And I suppose the reality for them is sinking in. I’m thinking of those, his wider family, his friends, his classmates, his teachers. They’re just trying to process this loss.
“He was going off to do the tractor run, in great form with his family and this most horrendous accident happens.
“As I said to anybody who I’ve spoken with, we all need to come together with compassion and support the family.”
Ms Howard added: “It’s really heartbreaking. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare.”
TJ was a student at St Flannan’s College in Ennis, 8km from Ballyea.
Fr Pat Malone, one of the parish priests for Clarecastle and Ballyea, said: “His family would be very well known and respected in the community.
“TJ was a lovely young fellow. And the young lads who he went to school with and played in teams are very, very shocked over the whole thing.
“Ballyea is a very tight community and it will be very supportive of the family in this situation, but it is very shocked about what has happened.”
A notice posted online said that TJ was “cherished and much loved by his heartbroken parents Tomás and Suzanne (nee Lee), his adored sisters Caoimhe and Laoise, his grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, relatives and a wide circle of friends”.
His funeral arrangements will be announced later.
A garda spokesperson has appealed for anyone who was in the area where TJ died around 2pm or who may have dashcam footage to come forward.
So far this year, a total of 188 people have died on Irish roads, an increase on last year, when 174 people died in road traffic collisions.
On Christmas Day a man died when his e-scooter was in collision with a car in Waterford city.
This year saw the highest level of road deaths on Irish roads in over a decade.
Thomas ‘TJ’ Chambers
News in 90 Seconds – 29th December 2025
From January 1, 390 new speed camera zones will become operational across the country, bringing the total number of safety camera zones nationwide to 1,901.
The primary purpose of safety cameras is to reduce speed-related collisions, lessen injuries and save lives, gardaí say.
Safety cameras operate in areas where there is a history of speed-related collisions, known as speed enforcement zones.
Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne, who is responsible for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, said: “GoSafe vans operate in areas that have a speed-related collision history where fatal, serious injury and minor injury collisions occur. In addition, locations which have been highlighted by members of the community as being areas of concern, have been included in the new zones. By identifying and targeting these high-risk areas, the aim is to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury collisions.”
“The aim is to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury collisions.”