The two men and woman who were all believed to have been in their 20s, were involved in a single-vehicle collision at approximately 11.30pm last night in the Leagh area, around 5km from Carlow town, on the main road to Wexford.
The three people were pronounced dead at the scene, with a fourth person also believed to be in his 20s, treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries at St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny.
It was also confirmed that the N80 at Leagh will remain closed for several hours, while Garda forensic investigators examine the scene, with local diversions put in place.
Anyone who was using the road, with camera footage (including dash cam), who were travelling on the N80 at Leagh between 11.15pm and midnight, are asked to hand this footage over to Gardaí, while anyone with information can contact Carlow Garda Station on 059 913 6620, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Reacting to this tragic news, local priest Fr Tom Little who received a call around midnight last night to go to the scene, said that the accident happened at a bad part of the road, where there have been a number of fatalities recently.
Revealing that he gave the three victims the last rites, he said that they would be a terrible loss to their families.
"It's just so sad that so many young people lose their lives in car accidents", Fr Little said.
Elsewhere, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also reacted to the news.
"I only heard about that this morning, so I'm really sorry to hear about the news," Mr Varadkar said, speaking in Brussels. "Our thoughts and condolences go to the families affected, and the community as well".
"I don't know the details of it yet, but obviously there will be an investigation and I think one person is hospital, so I hope they'll make a speedy recovery".
