Swine flu closes Gaeltacht school

The Irish language college in Donegal which has been hit by swine flu

An Irish language school in north-west Donegal where several students from Northern Ireland contracted swine flu has closed temporarily.

The affected students were part of a group of 300 attending Colaiste Mhuire Loch an Iuir in the Irish-speaking Gaeltacht region.

Irish health authorities said the affected pupils have a mild form of the swine flu virus.

The decision to close the college was taken on Saturday afternoon.

Milbred Lorimer's daughter had been on a course at Colaiste Mhuire Loch an Iuir.

"She texted me this morning, quite alarmed, just saying 'mummy will you come and see me'," said the Belfast woman.

"I thought she was a bit homesick, but when I arrived at the school everyone was emptying out of a large meeting and there were a lot of upset children crying.

"She said 'mummy there's been swine flu, the school's going to close and we have to go home'."

Swabbed

The course may be allowed to resume after seven days.

Five more students have been swabbed for the virus, and more than 80 have been seen by a local GP.

It is understood all students will return home on Saturday evening.

The course was scheduled to finish on 20 August.