Thirty Kosovars from Killarney were among 120 Kosovan refugees who left Shannon Airport for their homeland early yesterday under a Department of Foreign Affairs repatriation scheme.
They had been among the first group of refugees from Kosovo to arrive in Ireland, in May 1999. Killarney town clerk Ms Carmel Brosnan was among those who greeted them at Kerry Airport. "I have seen a visible change since the first time we met. Their sense of confidence has grown. And some who had no word of English, were able, towards the end, to carry on a conversation," she said.
The signs of stress she had noticed, particularly among the elderly, had lifted completely, she added.
Ms Brosnan, Mr Sean Counihan, chairman of Killarney UDC, and members of the Southern Health Board staff were treated to a farewell party at Atlas House, which along with nearby Park Lodge accommodated 200 refugees in Killarney.
The Kosovan community presented the town with a marble plaque depicting a handshake and words in both English and Albanian to the people of Killarney - "In grateful appreciation for your kindness and goodwill".
Ms Brosnan said: "We held a civic reception to welcome the Kosovars, and they appreciated that. And we had welcome signs made in English and Albanian. That too was appreciated." Staff at Atlas House said the refugees were excited about going home. Many of the remaining refugees at Atlas House are waiting for later flights while others are awaiting the results of exams at Killarney Community College. But all are eager to return before winter.
Two grandmothers were among those who left from Atlas House yesterday. At nearby Park Lodge the three departing families also held a party. "It was quite emotional," a staff member said.
The Kosovars integrated well in Killarney, attending language and information technology courses, schools and working, mainly in the tourism industry. Eight children were born to Kerry's Kosovan community in Killarney and Tralee, which numbered 280 initially. There has been one death.
An Irish Refugee Agency spokesman said the majority of the remaining 744 Kosovars would be repatriated by the end of September while 107 have decided not to return this summer.