Arrangements are being made to repatriate the bodies of two Dublin teenagers, who died in separate incidents on the Greek island of Ios over the weekend.
Investigations are currently under way into the cause of death of the two teenagers.
Andrew O'Donnell, aged 18, went missing after a night out on Friday and his body was found in a rocky area on Sunday morning. It is thought he may have fallen.
Max Wall, also aged 18, died hours later by the port on the island. He had had successful heart surgery three years earlier.
Both students had attended St Michael's College in Dublin and completed their Leaving Certificate exams last month.
Post mortems are expected to be carried out on their bodies in Athens tomorrow before being repatriated over the following days.
Around 90 students from St Michael's College were on a post Leaving Certificate holiday, along with hundreds of other Irish students.
The principal of St Michael's College said the school community is "absolutely devastated" over the deaths of two of its students.
Principal Tim Kelleher said the school is open and there are support services and counsellors available.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said: "We are heartbroken. We have a very tight-knit community and these are two fantastic young men with their lives ahead of them.
"Bright, sporting, academic men who had their whole life ahead of them and looking forward to this particular trip for months on end and the planning had been ongoing, not just in our school but in lots of other schools.
"So, I think there are hundreds and hundreds of families this morning plunged into deep, deep sadness because of what has occurred. And again we are reeling with it.
"It's exactly the nightmare that every parent dreads when group holidays and big groups of children go away.
"You just don't want to get the call to say your child is missing, but two of our families have had that call and we are devastated for them and our hearts are broken and our sympathy goes to them all."
Mr Kelleher said the school is expecting large numbers of boys to return from Ios in the next 48 hours and supports will be in place for them if needed.
He described Andrew as "a fantastic young man, great sportsman, fantastic footballer, played rugby in his club in his younger years and was involved and a huge supporter of the school in all facets. Academically bright and ... looking forward to his holiday, looking forward to going to college and a very, very bright future."
He said that Andrew's friends in Ios had been searching for him "and they got the worst possible news yesterday morning, as we all did, and we're all absolutely devastated with the news".
Mr Kelleher said Max was "a very bright young man, fantastic sportsman as well, passionate about his rugby and a really bright academic young man. Also, again the world at his feet and full of optimism and hope for the future."
He said the other boys in Ios "are traumatised", describing them as a "very tight knit group of young men".
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has expressed his sympathy to the families.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, he said the deaths were "every parent's nightmare" and that people were "devastated at the loss of such young lives, with such great potential".
"It’s devastating and the most traumatic news that any parent could hear," he said.
Mr Martin said the department is providing consular assistance on the ground.
"Many of their friends are out there in Ios and it’s a very, very difficult time for them now, and we’d just ask them to look after each other over the next number of days," Mr Martin said.
'Profound sadness'
In a letter to parents yesterday evening, Principal of St Michael's junior school Lorna Heslin described the tragedies as one of the darkest the school has ever experienced.
Ms Heslin wrote: "The deaths of two young men as they get ready to embark on the next stage of life is so difficult to accept.
"The sense of community which is the hallmark of St Michael's will be needed to support the O'Donnell and Wall families, and also the other members of the Leaving Certificate class as they come to terms with the deaths of Andrew and Max."
Ms Heslin told parents she was writing with "a profound sadness and a sense of great loss" to inform individuals of the deaths of the two young men.
She said Andrew "was a valued member" of the school, and that she wanted to extend "our deepest sympathy to his sorrowing parents and family as they come to terms with the loss of their darling Andrew".
Ms Heslin said teachers and staff also have "many fond memories of Max", describing him as "an outgoing bubbly child, always kind and polite, and enthusiastic, about every aspect of school life".
The Spiritan Education Trust, patrons of St Michael's College, extended its sympathies to the families of the teenagers.
In a statement, it said: "Over the weekend the Spiritan Education family were shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news.
"Our thoughts are with the parents and families of these two young men who today are suffering immeasurable loss.
"We extend our deepest sympathy and support to their grieving families, to all in their wider circle of friends and fellow classmates who will be mourning their passing and to the Board of Management, the school leaders and all our colleagues on the staff of St Michael's College."
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said the news was "devastating".
He said he is thinking of the two men's family and friends and "all Leaving Cert students abroad in Greece who were enjoying holidays after exams and are now encountering such shock and pain and grief".
Minister of State Jack Chambers said "the country was shocked".
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, he said: "It's a devastating and heartbreaking loss and my thoughts and condolences are with the families, friends and the wider school community of St Michael’s College."
