By Sean Moriarty

Up to 650 Ukrainians - who had no option but to flee their war torn country - are to be re-homed in Kerry including two Killarney hotels, some by the end of the long weekend.

READY TO DONATE: Some of the donations for Ukraine were held back to be given to Ukrainian refugees expected to arrive in to Killarney over the weekend. Photo: Gosia Miczek

The refugees are also to be housed in hotels in Tralee and Cahersiveen. Some have already arrived at the Earl of Desmond Hotel just outside Tralee.

The Killarney Advertiser understands that two local hotels are being prepared to welcome refugees as early as this weekend.

A new interagency group was established in Kerry yesterday (Wednesday).

The group is to coordinate the response to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in the county.

It includes a wide range of statutory, community, and voluntary agencies as well as representatives of the HSE and the Department of Social Protection.

The Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney has praised the people behind the 'Kerry for Ukraine' charity.

They have already shipped close to 200 pallets of goods to the Polish border and one local truck load is said to have made it all the way to Kyiv, the under-attack Ukrainian capital.

The charity is being led by well-known Killarney photographer Konrad Paprocki and he and his team have held back several pallets of vital equipment in anticipation of the arrival of refugees.

“I want to praise their wisdom in retaining a number of pallets,” Mayor Moloney told the Killarney Advertiser.

Retained donations include nappies, toothbrushes and other essential hygiene products.

Mr Paprocki is awaiting confirmation from the Saint Vincent de Paul Society on what products he and his team need to set aside in Killarney, but they will continue to collect goods and essential products.

Shipments to Poland will continue alongside localised distribution once the 650 refugees are re-housed in Kerry.

Mayor Moloney added that there is dire need for interpreters in the county in the coming weeks and called on Ukrainian-English speakers to make contact with her.