The delayed Macedonian Airways Boeing 737 finally touched down at Farranfore Airport in Co Kerry shortly after one o'clock this morning carrying the first party of Kosovan refugees to arrive in Ireland. The 138 refugees came into the cold Kerry night air to be met by Ms Liz O'Donnell, Minister for State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Jackie Healy Rae and a large number of well-wishers.
A young child. was followed off the aircraft by two old women in wheelchairs and then more children as well as adults. The children looked healthy and were well-dressed and appeared in good spirits. Translators told the refugees the Irish people welcomed them and this was reinforced, despite strict security, by the many local people who waited at the airport.
The Kerry people had even gone to the trouble of translating their greetings into Kosovan, but after a five-hour journey those in charge of the mercy operation only wanted to get the tired group onto buses and to places of safety and comfort.
There was a brief press conference at the airport but that was all. A spokesman for the group told of the troubles in Kosovo and said the hospitality offered by Irish people was most welcome. After that, and even before the politicians had dispersed, the tired travellers were on their way to bed in safe havens.
The refugees were taken to Drishane Castle, near Millstreet, Co Cork, and Atlas House, near Killarney, Co Kerry.
The group, the first of 1,000 ethnic Albanians due to arrive in coming weeks, comprised 22 families, 65 adults, 20 people in the 12 to 18 years age group, 38 in the two to 12 bracket and seven children under two years of age. This amounted to 130. There was another family on board, making 138, but last-minute confusion at the other end meant their details were unavailable.
There was a moving re-union between brothers Vecon and Adrom Bytyqi and their elder brother, Agime who flew in from Macedonia on board the relief plane, with his two sons Piprit (9) and Drion (4). The family had not seen one another for the past two years.
Offers of help and assistance from people in both Kerry and Cork were still poring pouring in as the plane touched down. The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, who was at the airport this morning, said in a statement all must respond "to the limit of our ability and every citizen has a role to play to make these people welcome in our society".
Mr Joe Moran, the deputy director of the refugee agency attached to the Department of Foreign Affairs, said last night the response from local people had been overwhelming. But he asked people to hold off to give both the incoming refugees and his own staff space in which to deal with the offers.