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Former Sem student among 3,000 new Irish citizens

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BY ADAM MOYNIHAN

 

A former St Brendan’s College student who fled war-torn Somalia as a teenager was among the 3,000 people to be conferred with Irish citizenship at a ceremony in the INEC this week.

 

Nasir Yasin, who arrived in Ireland in 2005, was just one of 3,000 people from 120 countries who became Irish citizens in Killarney on Monday. 586 of the candidates were originally from Poland, while 312 came from the UK. Romania, India and Nigeria completed the top five.

 

When he arrived in Ireland, Nasir was housed in Park Lodge, Killarney, while the government processed his application for asylum. During his time in the town, Nasir attended the Sem where he credits teacher Eoin O’Cara and Guidance Counsellor Tim Gleeson with helping him to learn English. He subsequently completed his Leaving Cert in 2007.

 

However, because he was an asylum seeker, Nasir was not allowed to advance to third level education. His classmates at St Brendan’s wrote a letter to the Department of Justice pleading for Nasir to be granted refugee status but to no avail. He spent five more years in direct provision in Wicklow and Dundalk before eventually being told in 2012 that he could remain in the country on humanitarian grounds.

 

The following year, Nasir signed up for what he describes as his “dream course”, Civil Engineering in DIT. He graduated in 2017 and is now fully qualified and seeking employment.

 

Nasir returned to Killarney this week with his wife Samsam and children Mawaahib and Mohamed, and he officially became an Irish citizen at the ceremony.

 

“Before the ceremony, I visited St Brendan’s College where I met my old principal, Ed O'Neill,” Nasir said. “He recognised me well and welcomed me. He was very proud of me and he was telling everyone that I was former student here.

 

“Most of my teachers were retired but they still remain in my heart.”

 

As an Irish citizen Nasir is now hopeful that he will be able to bring his mother and siblings to Ireland.

 

“I have a contact with my family at the moment and I know where they are now, but at any time they might have to leave their homes due to disease, hunger and drought,” he said. “The Islamist armed group Al-Shabaab has threatened and abducted civilians, which has also forced many people to flee.”

 

The Irish Refugee Protection Programme Humanitarian Admission Programme 2 (IHAP) provides an opportunity to Irish citizens who have immediate eligible family members from the top 10 major source countries of refugees, to propose to the Minister for these family members to join them in Ireland. Somalia is one of these top 10 source countries.

 

[caption id="attachment_23877" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Nasir Yasin with his wife Samsam and children Mawaahib and Mohamed. Nasir attended St Brendan's College as a teenager.[/caption]

 

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Kerry coaches firm honoured with All-Ireland title

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Kerry Coaches named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025

Killarney-based Kerry Coaches has been named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition also marks Kerry Coaches’ second Business All-Star Accreditation, having received its first accolade in 2024.

Founded in 1957, Kerry Coaches has established itself as a leader in the Irish transport industry, known for its exceptional service and commitment to quality.  With a fleet of over 100 modern chauffeur vehicles, mini-buses and coaches the company provides a wide range of transport services, including corporate travel, executive golf transportation and bespoke tours throughout Ireland and Scotland.

 Speaking on the achievement, Mike Buckley, Director of Kerry Coaches, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. It’s a true reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and passion shown by every member of our team. Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional travel experiences, and this award reaffirms our position as a leader in the industry.”

Announcing the news of Kerry Coaches’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: “It is my pleasure to commend Kerry Coaches for its outstanding performance in achieving the Business All-Star accreditation. After a thorough review, the firm has been honoured with All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company Of The Year 2025. Kerry Coaches is distinguished not only for its superior fleet but also for its exceptional team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years. This seasoned team brings an extraordinary level of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that every client experience is exceptional.”         

Managing   Director   of   the   All-Ireland   Business   Foundation, Kapil   Khanna, said:  “The accreditation, which is now held by over 700 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.”

He   added: “We   evaluate   a   company’s   background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

About The All-Ireland Business Foundation

The All-Ireland Business Foundation is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses.

As the accreditation body for the Business All-Star mark, the AIBF recognises Best-In-Class Irish 

businesses.   Companies   that   merit   recognition   based   on   an   independent   audit   of   their performance, reputation, and customer-centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation Is The Nation’s Symbol Of Trust. Currently, there are over 700 

companies that are accredited by AIBF. Since 2014, over 5000 companies have participated in their programmes.

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Trainee Blacksmith forging a career at Muckross Traditional Farms

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Phillip Pestor-Young, a trainee blacksmith from County Kildare, is currently gaining experience under Master Blacksmith Tom Allison at Muckross Traditional Farms.

Pestor-Young is enrolled in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. This programme is a cross-border educational initiative by the King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, and the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. 

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019, Phillip trained as an engineer and fabricator in the UK. He is now developing his blacksmithing skills in Kerry.

For more information on the program, visit https://kings-foundation.org/study/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme/.

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