The group of schoolgirls, their faces drained with grief, sobbed quietly as they clutched each other for support. Like many other students they had gathered at the entrance to the Loreto Convent school in Navan, where four of the five dead schoolgirls were from, to leave a floral tribute to their friends, writes Carl O'Brien in Navan.
"It's devastating that such an overwhelmingly good and honest girl had to leave the world through no fault of her own," said one note. Another in neat biro read: "You were the best prefect ever. Every day you had a smile on your face. Miss you loads."
Yesterday, as the overwhelming shock at the scale of the tragedy began to subside, the moving, personal details of the five schoolgirls' hopes and aspirations began to emerge. They painted a picture of sparkling young women whose lives stretched out ahead of them, full of possibility and opportunity.
There was Claire McCluskey (18), a bright and bubbly prefect who always had time for younger students, and Deirdre Scanlon (17), who was quieter, more studious and a straight-A student. She loved singing and was a member of a local folk group. Lisa Callan (15), with her striking blond hair, played bass guitar and was intent on becoming an architect. There was Aimee McCabe (15), the leader of her class, the person everyone went to first when they had a problem. And Sinéad Ledwidge (15), another vivacious girl with a talent for playing the accordion, spent many of her weekends at music fleadhs.
As the community prepares itself for five funerals, those within are helping each other to grieve.
Elizabeth Sheridan, a mother whose teenage son and daughter survived the crash, said: "Even at the hospital last night it was like a community gathering, everyone knew everyone else . . . All of this is still very, very shocking."