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Tears of relief as Government do u-turn on Ukrainian move

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By Michelle Crean

It was an emotional morning - but one filled with sighs of relief and many tears - as 135 Ukrainian women and children learned that they are now allowed to stay in Killarney.

In a last ditch move with less than an hour before the bus was due to arrive to Hotel Killarney to take them 300kms across the country to Westport Co Mayo, Minister for Education Norma Foley announced that they could stay in Killarney. It came after the arrival of up to 190 male refugees to the hotel a number of days ago.

A large gathering took place outside the hotel which included local politicians, the media, other members of the Ukrainian community who are living in the Innisfallen Hotel in Fossa and a huge amount of local people who were all outraged that they were to be moved with less than 48 hours notice.

The main concern was for the welfare of the children who had already been traumatised by the abrupt move from their home in March due to the Russian-Ukraine war. The families had settled over the last seven months in town with many women getting jobs, making new friendships and settling the children in local primary and secondary schools.

Dina Kukushkina, who works in Reens Pharmacy, is one such parent and today she said that they are so happy to be staying.

"I am very happy to hear this news," Dina, who was in the car with their luggage when she heard the news, told the Killarney Advertiser.

"When we heard this information we are very very happy. I still can't believe it, it's incredible and unbelievable for us. We will continue our life.

"We didn't sleep [last night] because we didn't know what would be the result. We just collected our things and our children were crying until 2am. Today in the morning I saw women and they were upset too because of the children because again it's stress and adaptation and it's really hard."

The women and children for now will stay at Hotel Killarney but there's plans to move them to other locations locally in the coming days.

READ ALL THE REACTION IN THIS WEEK'S KILLARNEY ADVERTISER - OUT FRIDAY

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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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