A Co Cork village is campaigning to prevent the deportation of a Kurdish mother and her two young sons who have been living in the neighbourhood for more than two years.
The family, which unsuccessfully sought asylum, has been ordered to report to the headquarters of the Garda National Immigration Bureau next week where they face being deported.
However, community leaders, school teachers and residents in Glounthaune, outside Cork city, have initiated a campaign asking the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, to allow the family to remain in the State.
The two boys, Yusuf (13) and Orhan (14) Gül, attend local schools and are involved in the local soccer team and youth club.
Colm Twohig, trainer of the Knockraha-Leeside soccer team, said: "The young fellows have made lots of friends and are involved in everything.
"They've been living here a long time, and it's not fair they should be uprooted after that amount of time."
He added: "The young fellow is very upset about it. He's very popular and has a lot friends, has perfect English."
Test results show the boys have been doing well at Glounthaune National School and Glanmire Community School.
Teachers at the schools, including both principals, have also added their voices to the campaign supporting the family.
A spokesman for Mr McDowell said 16 deportation orders had been signed for other Kurds or Turkish nationals.
He added that the cases of unsuccessful asylum-seekers were processed through two independent bodies and that authorities were entitled to deport anyone who was not legally resident in the State.
A spokeswoman for the Garda declined to comment on whether the family would be deported on Tuesday and whether they formed part of a larger group of people due to be deported.
Yusuf Gül said the family did not want to return to their old home near Ganziantep, close to the Iraq and Syrian border.
"It is dangerous there. We want to stay here. I play lots of football, and my brother is one of the best runners in Cork. My mother is very upset about returning," he said.
The two boys received awards from the President, Mary McAleese, for being part of one of the most successful branches of the Fir Óige youth club.
Fir Óige has joined in the campaign at local and national level for the family to be allowed to stay in the country.
Local councillor Gerry Kelly (FG) also called on the Minister to make an exception for the Gül family given their contribution to the community.
"The locals have responded wonderfully to asylum-seekers in the area," he said.
"People been very supportive and helped them to settle into the area. .
"There is a serious problem with a system which takes years to process an [ asylum] application for a family like this."
