The families of the two Irish students who died in a house fire in Brittany last Friday yesterday travelled to France to make arrangements for the return of their bodies to Ireland.
Patricia McDonald (21) from Cootehill in Co Cavan and Carol Nolan (20) from Walkinstown in Dublin died at the house they were renting in Lorient. Both were students at the Institute of Technology in Tallaght and were in France for the academic year under the Erasmus student exchange programme.
Speaking before they boarded a flight to Paris yesterday, Patricia McDonald's father, Thomas, told The Irish Times his family was overcome by her loss.
He saw his daughter last Monday, he said, before she returned to France to prepare for exams that were to begin today.
"We'd a great Christmas and new year with her. She always looked forward to coming home; she'd been home for Halloween, she was to come home in February and then again at Easter.
"She had a fantastic personality, Patricia. She was very outgoing, and [ was] everybody's friend. Everywhere she went, she was like that. She loved life and looked forward to life. It's unreal, just an unbearable time."
Mr McDonald was travelling with his wife Teresa, Patricia's sister Joanne (19), her brother James (16), her boyfriend Paul Duffy and her aunt Anne Dunne.
Ms Dunne said her niece was always good humoured and made friends easily. "When her boyfriend and I were talking about her, we used exactly the same words to describe her. She was bubbly, good-humoured, vivacious, always in good form.
"I was in her bedroom yesterday, and saw a Student of the Year plaque from her school [St Aidan's Comprehensive, in Cootehill] on the wall.
"I think it's so difficult for the young people," she said. "My heart goes out to them."
Patricia wanted to be a teacher, Ms Dunne added, and had mentioned in recent weeks that she hoped to train as a second-level teacher after completing her course in European Studies at IT Tallaght.
Carol Nolan's father, Brendan, said his daughter's death was "a shock to the system". Neighbours and friends had been enormously supportive since they heard the news, he said, and the family were grateful for the generous help of IT Tallaght and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
"She absolutely loved it in France," Mr Nolan said. "They mixed a lot with the other students, people of all nationalities. They gelled well."
Mr Nolan was travelling with his wife Celia and son David (29).
The families were accompanied by representatives of IT Tallaght, who were helping with logistical arrangements, while the Department of Foreign Affairs is also assisting.