They met at college and were conferred together. Eighteen months later, they holidayed together in Brazil, taking time to visit other friends.

On June 15 2007, Jane Deasy, Aisling Butler and Eithne Walls were conferred at Trinity College, Dublin.

Their achievement was officially recorded by the Medical Council on July 1 last year. ‘Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery’.

Ms Walls had a colourful past. Aged in her late 20s, she was a former Irish dancing star and member of the Riverdance troupe.

Originally from Ballygowan she had lived in Waterford and worked in Dublin.

Julian Erskine, executive producer of Riverdance, last night described Ms Walls as a longstanding member of the dance troupe who was well-known and liked by the cast.

“They’re all devastated. She was a very popular and talented member of the troupe,” he said.

Eithne had been a competitive dancer for more than 20 years and won numerous medals from the All-Ireland, American, British, Ulster and World Championships.

She retired from competition in 2000 and went on to become a member of Riverdance and performed with the troupe on Broadway for a year before studying medicine at Trinity College.

However, she remained part of the troupe’s “flying squad” whilst at university and returned to the troupe as a full-time cast member in 2004 for its summer run at the Gaiety Theatre.

She was also among the Riverdance cast that performed for the opening ceremonies at the 2003 Special Olympics in Dublin along with U2 and The Corrs.

After travelling from Brazil to Paris with a Welsh companion after visiting a friend, Ms Walls, Ms Deasy and Ms Butler were due to make an onward connection yesterday on an Air France flight to Dublin.

Aisling Butler (22) was a daughter of John and Evelyn Butler from Ballinakill, outside Roscrea in north Tipperary.

Her father, John, is a well-known retired garda who now runs the successful Adare Transport company from the family home near Roscrea.

He is originally from Adare in county Limerick and the couple have one other daughter, Laura. Aisling attended medical school and was working lately in Tallaght Hospital.

“This is an awful tragedy,” family friend Denis Ryan said last night after hearing the news. “They would be a very popular family and John is known as a hard-working businessman.”

A county councillor, Mr Ryan said he was going through the electoral register in recent days and noticed that Aisling had recently registered to vote.