The bodies of two brothers-in-law been found at neighbouring farms in Co Carlow have been removed to Naas General Hospital for post mortem examinations.
It is understood the men died in a murder-suicide incident.
Firefighters called to a blaze at haysheds at Ballycormac, near Bagenalstown, in the early hours of this morning found the body of one of the victims after a four-hour battle to bring the fire under control.
It is thought George Rothwell (71), died from gunshot wounds. A firearm was discovered close to his body.
Several hours later, his sister's husband, Michael Jordan (51) was found dead in an outbuilding on his neighbouring farm by his wife Hilda. He had apparently taken his own life.
A small amount of livestock was killed in the fire and some 30 cattle were rescued from one of the barns.
A Garda spokesman said the scenes of both incidents have been sealed off for forensic examinations.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis has visited both farms and the bodies have tonight been removed to Naas General Hospital, where they will undergo post mortem examinations tomorrow.
Mr Rothwell, understood to be a bachelor and an award-winning farmer, was a member of the Church of Ireland.
Bagenalstown minister the Rev Charles McCollum said he knew him and was travelling back from a trip to Belfast to be with the family. "It's a shocking tragedy for all the families involved and the local community," he said. "It's a tragedy of very great intensity."
Ger Guerin, chief fire officer for Carlow, said his crews faced difficulties bringing the massive blaze under control when they arrived on the scene around 3.20am. "There were a number of hayshed buildings spread over quite a large area that were well alight," he said. "It presented some logistical problems for us - but we overcame them very quickly."
Fr Paddy Byrne, a local priest, said the family was devastated. "This is a very difficult place for anyone to find themselves to be, in terms of the tragic loss of life. There is shock, a numbness, an environment where people are trying to come to terms with exactly what happened," he said.
Fr Byrne said both farmers were well-known and well-respected and said there was a "sense of absolute numbness" in the close-knit community: "When things you often hear about far away come to reality close by it's very difficult," he said.
“It’s a sad day for the area, it’s a huge loss for the community and our immediate concern is to support the families and be close to them. We’re trying to comfort and be there for them.”