A minute's silence was held at conferring ceremonies in University College Cork yesterday as a mark of respect to two UCC students killed in a car accident in Portugal on Wednesday.
Third-year marine biology students, Ms Aisling O'Loughlin (21) and Ms Paula O'Neill (22), died when the car in which they were travelling collided with a train at a level crossing in the southern Algarve.
The students had left UCC earlier this month to take up placements on the Erasmus programme with UCC's partner institute in Portugal, the University of the Algarve.
They were travelling with their German teacher and two other Portuguese students on a field study trip, when their car was struck by the express train.
The two young women were killed instantly and the 48-year-old driver died as he was being transferred to hospital.
The two remaining passengers were rushed to Faro hospital where they remain in a critical condition.
Emergency services that attended the scene said the crash was probably caused by poor visibility at the crossing.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is assisting the O'Loughlin and O'Neill families - from Rochestown and Douglas respectively - who are preparing to travel to the Algarve to bring the girls' bodies home.
A wreath was laid at the Honan Chapel and a book of condolences opened in the college.
Speaking of behalf of the students and staff, UCC president Prof Gerard T. Wrixon said: "May I extend our deepest sympathies to Aisling and Paula's loved ones at this very sad and difficult time. Today, our thoughts are with the students' families and friends as they begin to mourn the loss of their cherished Aisling and Paula, whose young lives have been so sadly cut short."