The 140 Kosovan refugees who arrived in Co Kerry in the early hours of yesterday morning from Macedonia were quietly settling in to their new surroundings yesterday and acclimatising.
Upon their arrival at Farranfore Airport in Co Kerry in the early hours, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, asked the assembled media not to intrude on the families, including very old and very young people.
She said they should be allowed to acquaint themselves with their new surroundings and to do so in privacy.
Some 100 refugees are staying at Atlas House, on the outskirts of Killarney, while the remaining group have been accommodated at the former convent adjoining Drishane Castle, near Millstreet, Co Cork. Despite the Minister's plea for privacy, yesterday curiosity got the better of some of the younger Kosovans and they left the grounds of Atlas House in Killarney briefly to explore their new environment.
Naturally, this was an opportunity for the assembled media to photograph them. However, Mr John O'Neill, the director of the refugee agency attached to the Department of Affairs, said that on Friday next a media opportunity would be provided during which photographers and reporters would be given access to the refugees.
But for now, a Cork-based security company is staffing the entrances to both the Millstreet and Killarney refugee centres and unless one's name is on a list, there is no access.
Ms Eily Buckley, the press officer for the Millstreet Community Council, is one person who does have access.
Together with other volunteers, she went to Drishane Castle early yesterday morning to welcome the visitors. She said that the children seemed very happy with their new surroundings and were excited to be in Millstreet.
But she was struck in particular by "one lady, probably in her 60s, who seemed totally alone and was looking into space. I felt terribly sorry for her and none of the volunteers knew what to say to her," she added.
Mr O'Neill said that the refugees had settled down very well and had enjoyed a well-earned night's sleep after a hearty meal. Everything was being done that could be done for them and the various social services organisations were meeting with the two groups to explain their entitlements in Ireland and to ensure their medical welfare.
Ms Buckley said the refugee agency together with the Southern Health Board would liaise with the Millstreet Community Council to help the Kosovans to integrate into their new community.
"I don't expect to see many of them out and about for the next couple of weeks, but here in Millstreet they have 200 acres of parkland at their disposal. There are some lovely private walks along the pathways where the river Sinowe meets the Blackwater and they will have great privacy just for now," she said.
"Everyone wants to help them and we have had oceans of telephone calls offering every type of assistance. Some local people want to take the children into their own homes and give them a good holiday," she added.
Already, community welfare officers have met with the refugees to explain to them how to get medical cards and to outline precisely what their status in Ireland is as temporary refugees.
The adults have been told they will be entitled to work here during their stay, which might be prolonged more than one year, depending on events in the former Yugoslavia. Today medical screening will be offered.