Teenagers going to Irish college in Cape Clear, west Cork, escaped unhurt yesterday after a fire on the privately-owned bus on which they were travelling.
Nobody was injured but motorists were advised to avoid the area because the road between Innishannon and Halfway was blocked.
Fire units from Bandon, Kinsale and Cork city attended the scene.
Some 43 teenagers lost all their luggage after the Galvin-owned coach went on fire. The blaze started at the front of the bus shortly before 3pm.
The teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, were travelling to Baltimore. From there they were to take a boat to Irish college in Cape Clear.
Dave McCarthy, from Maryborough, Rochestown, Cork, said his son, Brian (14), was one of the last to get off the bus before it went completely on fire.
"My lad Brian was at the back of the bus when it was leaving, and he was one of the last to get off. They were out of the bus and 90 seconds later it went completely up in flames. Girls around him were screaming and crying. They lost all their belongings. Not that that is the important thing."
A spokesman for Galvin coach company in Dunmanway said they were unsure about the cause of the fire."We are just glad that everyone got off safely and that everyone is okay. We will be carrying out our own investigation into the fire."
A full Garda investigation is to be launched into the incident. The Health and Safety Authority will also examine the cause of the fire.