A Macedonian Airways aircraft carrying 154 Kosovan refugees touched down at Cork Airport shortly after 11 p.m. last night. Among the group were 14 children under the age of two years, including five infants under six months. The oldest of the group was an 80-year-old man.
The refugees were met at the airport by the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, and Ministers of State Mr Dan Wallace TD and Mr Martin Cullen TD. The chairperson of the Southern Health Board, Dr Catherine Molloy, and the chief executive, Mr Sean Hurley, were also present. Also on hand were the chairman of the South Eastern Health Board, Mr Michael Meaney and representatives of the Muslim community from Cork and Dublin.
While the majority of the refugees seemed in good health, and walked from the aircraft across the tarmac to the terminal building, six disembarked in wheelchairs.
Some 60 refugees are to be accommodated in the former Park Lodge guesthouse in Killarney, Co Kerry, while 90 are to be accommodated in the former Presentation Convent building in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.