Funeral arrangements: Following the release of the bodies of the five victims of Monday's bus crash to their families last night, the two Co Meath parishes involved announced details of the funeral arrangements.
This evening the body of Clare McCluskey will be removed to the Church of the Nativity, Rosnaree, for burial tomorrow after 11am requiem Mass in Knockcommon Cemetery, some 3km away.
Also tomorrow, Lisa Callan's funeral will take place at the same church at 2pm. Her body will be laid to rest at Ballapousta Cemetery, Ardee.
The body of Deirdre Scanlon will be removed tomorrow to the Church of the Assumption, Beauparc, for 11am requiem Mass. Her burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery.
Also tomorrow, Sinéad Ledwidge's funeral will take place at 2pm in the Church of the Assumption, Beauparc, with burial immediately afterwards.
On Friday, Aimee McCabe's funeral will also take place in the Church of the Assumption, at 11am. Her burial will take place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Churches in both parishes will remain open for people who wish to spend time in quiet remembrance and prayer. A book of condolences has been opened on the diocesan website, www.dioceseofmeath.ie, and a day of prayer will take place tomorrow in the Church of St Cianan, Duleek, Co Meath, from 10am to 9pm.
Students from all four secondary schools in Navan affected by the crash attended a memorial Mass yesterday morning in St Mary's Church in the town. Fr Brendan Ludlow told the packed congregation that people should not underestimate the power of prayer at terrible times like these. He said prayer would provide support to families and friends of the dead and injured.
"Students sometimes look to teachers because they think they have all the answers and I told them at this time that the teachers too are struggling. I asked them to pray for the Leaving Certificate classes, some who were meant to have their graduation Masses this week. In the face of silence, which seems the only appropriate response you can make because you cannot say anything about such a loss, I told them to pray," he added.
The Catholic Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, also called for prayers for the victims and for their families. He asked people to remember also the teachers in the schools affected.
Speaking to reporters as he visited St Michael's Loreto Convent in Navan, Dr Smith said the previous hours had been "very difficult".
He said it was extraordinarily traumatic for any parent to lose a child and that no simple words could ease the pain.
However, families and friends of the victims would receive strong support from their local communities. "Most areas of rural Meath would have a very strong identity. I've no doubt that the community will come together," he said.
He said that from his experience of other deaths of young people, he believed that young people had a great facility to bounce back.
Expressions of sympathy have also come from the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neill, and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Bishop Richard Clarke.
