IRISH PASSENGERS:THE THREE Irish women on the Air France flight that disappeared over the Atlantic yesterday are recently qualified doctors in their late 20s.
Their names were confirmed last night as Jane Deasy from Dublin, Aisling Butler from Roscrea, Co Tipperary, and Eithne Walls from Ballygowan, Co Down. They were aged between 26 and 29. All three graduated from medical school at Trinity College Dublin in 2007 and registered with the Medical Council this year.
Dr Walls lived and worked in Dublin. A highly accomplished Irish dancer, she was a cast member of Riverdance.
Dr Walls had been dancing for more than 20 years and won medals in the Ulster, All-Ireland, US, British and world championships, according to a profile on the damhsa.ie website. She performed with Riverdanceon Broadway in New York and China, Qatar, France and Germany.
She was a full-time cast member in Riverdance's 2004 summer run at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.
The women are believed to have been travelling in a party of four and were accompanied by a female friend from Wales.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said its officials contacted the women’s families yesterday and informed them their daughters were on the passenger list.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen offered solidarity to the families of the three Irish women. “Our primary concern is for the families during this difficult time. The Government is offering support to the families as they wait on news of their loved ones,” he said. “Many other families in Europe and in Brazil also have an anxious wait and our thoughts are also with them.
“I want to convey the solidarity of the Irish people with France, Germany and Brazil and other countries where people are waiting on news of this flight.”
President Mary McAleese also expressed her concern. “My thoughts and prayers and the thoughts of everyone, this evening are with the Irish families and the families of everyone on board at this very difficult time,” she said.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said it was with regret that his officials had learned the three Irish women were on the passenger list. “We have contacted the families of those involved and are offering full consular assistance,” he said.