GREECE:The Department of Foreign Affairs has appealed to Irish people travelling to Greece to "take extra care" if visiting regions that have been affected by the worst fires to hit the country in decades.
The appeal comes as a group of Irish students arrive in Greece this week to take part in a guided educational tour of the country's ancient historical sites. The group of 25 classics and archaeology students from UCD, UCC, NUI Maynooth and Trinity College have travelled to the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies in Athens for a 10-day tour.
Two of the historical areas the students expected to visit, Messenia and Elis, have been declared disaster zones and tour organisers have been forced to reconsider their plans. "We have been taking advice from the Greek authorities and the Irish Embassy to make sure that we make a decision that ensures everyone is safe," Dr Christine Morris of Trinity College said.
"Students have travelled to Greece for the past eight years and we believe the trip makes a huge difference to their learning experience, so they will be very disappointed," she said.
