Communities in the village of Ballinascarthy and across west Cork are supporting the family of 20-year old murdered student Cameron Blair, who died after he was stabbed in Cork city on Thursday night.
The focus of the garda investigation has narrowed, after gardaí held a case conference at Togher Garda Station in Cork to assess and analyse the evidence gathered so far.
There has been a huge response to their appeal to the public for help, and a trawl of CCTV, phone and dashcam footage has been particularly productive. As a result, many different lines of enquiry are being pursued.
Detectives are pleased with the progress which has been made. A clear picture is now emerging of what happened on the night of Cameron Blair's death.
Forty kilometres away from the investigation headquarters in Togher, the community in the picturesque village of Ballinascarthy is rallying.
In fact, support is pouring in for the Blair family from throughout west Cork.
Marie O'Sullivan runs a restaurant in Kinsale and is a friend of the Blair family.
"Here in west Cork, there is a fantastic community," Marie told RTÉ News. "The greater Bandon area and the whole community will row in behind the Blair family and help them through what is unimaginable grief."
Marie is also a mother, and understands parents' fears.
"I know when you say goodbye to your children in the morning, you expect them to be home for their dinner in the evening. These are circumstances you never expect to find on your own doorstep and, I think, the whole community is shocked and saddened by this episode. It's a tragic loss of a fine young man and the circumstances of his death are absolutely horrific."
There is deep shock among the large student community in Cork, where Cameron Blair was a second year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology. He received his secondary education at Bandon Grammar School, before completing his Leaving Certificate at the nearby Hamilton High School.
This afternoon, leafing through the pages of school yearbooks, Principal of Bandon Grammar Ian Coombes pointed out many photographs of Cameron Blair being honoured for achievements in athletics and on school rugby teams.
Ian called to the Blair family home yesterday. Cameron's parents, Noel and Cathy, and his 17-year old brother Alan, are "bearing up well", he said. They are being well supported by members of their wider family and by friends coming and going.
The Blair family are particularly grateful for the way Cameron's friends supported him and stayed with him from the moment the incident occurred on Thursday night until members of the emergency services arrived.
Echoing the sentiments of many parents around the country this weekend, Ian Coombes said "it's every parent's nightmare".
"I am a parent myself of young people in their 20s and teens, and it is the dread of every family that you will get that phone call."
Mr Coombes remembers Cameron Blair as a very vibrant young man.
"He was really enthusiastic about his sport and a very bright and intelligent young man. He always had lots of friends," he said.
A short distance from Bandon Grammar, the pitches at Bandon Rugby Club are silent this weekend as a mark of respect to Cameron Blair.
Cameron played here since he was a child, and was due to line out for Bandon last night in a home game against Mallow in the Seconds J2 League.
Conor Slattery is Director of Rugby at Bandon Rugby Club.
"He was a child and later a man who had a lovely confidence about him," said Conor. "He had a smile, played rugby like he lived: with joy and confidence."
On school teams and with Bandon Rugby Club, Cameron played on the wing. He backed himself.
"He was a joy to see running with the ball in his hand," said Conor. "He could connect with everyone across the whole community of the club, and that is a lovely ability to have."
A post-mortem examination on Cameron Blair's body has been completed at Cork University Hospital. Funeral arrangements are expected to be made next week.
