A private prayer service has taken place in Carlow Cathedral to remember the four young women killed in Tuesday’s road crash near Athy.
The ceremony was attended by staff and students of St. Leo's College in Carlow, where the girls went to school.
School chaplain, Fr John Cummins said a cloud hangs over the town in the wake of the tragedy.
Principal Clare Ryan said she is unable to offer words of comfort to grieving students:
“I suppose, as a mother, as a principal, as a colleague, I have visited the homes and I have to the mams and dads – and I have just said to them, ‘I have no words for you, but I’m here’.”
Ashling Middleton from Athy and Chermaine Carroll, Niamh Doyle and Gemma Nolan, all from Carlow lost their lives when the car they were travelling in collided with a van.
Their friend Dayna Kearney from Carlow was driving and remains in hospital.
A Book of condolences has been opened at the offices of Carlow County Council.
Council chairman Fergal Browne said the town is numb following the tragedy.
“There is a sense of numbness that four gorgeous girls in the peak of their lives suddenly they’re tragically cut short,” he said.
Investigations are continuing into the cause of a crash.
