By Michelle Crean 

This week the Ukrainian community wrote an open letter to sincerely thank the entire community for their support.

The 135 women and children were left shocked last week learn that they had just 48 hours notice to leave Hotel Killarney and move to Mayo as over 300 asylum seekers arrived to the town.

Shaken by the news, they were soon relieved to find the community rally behind them to help them to stay as children had settled in school and women found jobs locally.

“On the day of our departure, we were devastated, our children were sad, we cried all night, because Killarney became a second home for us and our children, where their calm, safe life began. All the management and staff of Hotel Killarney has supported us from the first days of our stay in this wonderful hotel and our families felt cared. The school has become a second home for our children, because we did not even expect such a caring attitude from the teachers and the school principal. These are incredible people with big hearts who helped our children adapt to their new school, language, and customs from April to June. And as a result, our children happily ran to school on September 1, because they couldn't wait to meet their new friends and teachers. We would like to express our special thanks to the teaching staff of St Oliver's School headed by principal Mr Colm Ó Suilleabháin and principal of St Brendan’s College Sean Coffey, the teams of other schools where our students study.

Thank all the parents, students and friends of the schools that our children are studying at for your support on the day and all the campaigning you all did on our behalf, thank you! After learning about our situation, Cllr Niall Kelleher, reacted immediately and tried to solve our problem in a positive way. Together with him, all the team and volunteers of the KASI office worked on solving this situation.

Thanks to Sheila Casey, Brendan Griffin, Norma Foley and all the other TD’s, councillors and politicians that fought for us. Now we are happy. Everyone has a home in this beautiful city among the kindest Irish people, who supported us this seven months and did not leave us in trouble, coming to support us on the day of our departure. We thank the residents of the city for their support, empathy and active public stance, especially Jean Eustace and Sophia Stebakova. We would like to thank our Ukrainians, who also did not stand aside and came to support us. We were really touched! Special thanks to people from hotel Innisfallen, Eviston House, McSorleys, staff from Hotel Killarney. Thank to all local volunteers, activists and NGO’s there are too many of ye to mention; you all know who you are we are eternally grateful for your efforts, your support and kindness. A huge thank you to all residents of the town of Killarney, which has become very close to us,” sincerely yours, all Ukrainian families.