Chris Bradley from the village of Desertmartin in Co Derry was a drummer with country star Declan Nerney.
Two other men sustained injuries in the collision and were transported to hospital in Drogheda, with Mr O’Donnell and others wishing them a “full recovery”.
It’s understood band members were en route back from a gig in Naas when tragedy struck.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the fatal road traffic collision on the M1 northbound between junctions 12 and 14 at Mooremont, Co Louth on Saturday.
The police said: “The collision occurred at approximately 2am and involved a tractor and car. A male passenger of the car, aged in his 30s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“Two other male occupants – aged in their 20s & 60s – of the car have been taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to be treated for injuries believed to be non-life threatening. No other injuries have been reported.
“A technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators will be conducted.”
Gardaí in Drogheda are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.
“Any road users who were travelling on the M1 between Junctions 12 & 14, during the hours of 1:30am and 2:10am, and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam), are asked to make this available to Gardaí,” a spokesperson said.
A funeral notice says Mr Bradley was the husband of Gabrielle and father to Darcey and Brogan and son of Mario and Monica.
Irish country singing legend Daniel O’Donnell posted a tribute, saying it is with “shock and sadness” that he learned of the tragic death of Chris Bradley.
“My deepest sympathy to his wife, children and all his family,” he added.
“Also to Declan Nerney and all his band. Thinking especially of Jerome and Bob and please god they will fully recover from their injuries. May god help them all at this very sad time.”
Declan Nerney lost another former drummer, Martin O’Connor, to a hit and run accident in Florida.
It was reported he was allegedly hit by a BMW car while crossing the street with two friends in February 2015. The BMW fled the scene.
Speaking to the Sunday World, Declan said he was struggling to “come to terms” with a second tragedy of this nature.
“I’m absolutely devastated,” he said. “Chris was with me for around eight years and he was a lovely gosson. He was the life and soul of the party, no matter where he was. He was a delightful man to be around. He was also a great drummer, pure class.
“My heart goes out to Chris’s poor family. He only got married five years ago and he has young children.
“There have been numerous fatalities down through the years. The roads are very dangerous at the moment, as we know from all the deaths this year, but there are numerous minor accidents all the time.”
Northern Irish country singer Barry Kirwan was in disbelief. He said: “Only two weeks ago I was sitting chatting with Chris out at the hooley in the sun about life, our wives and our kids and about how much we were enjoying life as daddies!
“How cruel the world can be that you were tragically taken last night you wouldn’t have met a more genuine man than Chris Bradley, this world has lost a gent of a man and the country music scene has lost such a talented drummer!
“My thoughts and prayers are with Chris’s wife Gabrielle and his two beautiful children. Also thinking about Chris’s band mates Bob, Jerome and Declan. Condolences to the wider Bradley family. Go rest high Chris! Rest in peace my friend.”
Paying tribute, Robert Colhoun described Chris as a “good friend and brilliant drummer”, adding “I just can’t believe it has happened, he was a true gentleman”.
They became friends through a shared love of music. Robert said: “He always was the first to go over and talk to you at a gig. He was always asking about how you were and your family.
“One of the best drummers in the country scene. The whole extended family are into country music. He loved touring with Declan and his band.
“I think if you ask anybody that knows him they would tell you the same. Just an all round nice lad, always smiling. He just lived for his family.
“Rest easy, Chris. One of life’s real gents, gone far too soon. Sincere condolences to his family and Declan and all the lads. Rest in peace. My thoughts are with Bob and Jerome for a full recovery.”
Others who knew Chris took to social media to echo those sentiments saying he was a “gentleman” with “great talent”.
Last Friday Declan was inducted into the ICMA Hall of Fame on the Late Late Country Music Special.
“I wasn’t expecting that to tell you the honest truth,” a clearly taken aback Nerney told host Patrick Kielty when he was handed the Hall of Fame trophy.
A source in the country scene said: “To go from being inducted to this is an awful transformation, such a tragedy.”
Anyone with any information about Saturday’s fatal road collision is asked to contact Drogheda Street Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
