East Mayo school welcomes new pupils from Ukraine

THE sound of children playing will ring a little louder this week over Kinaffe National School.

Today the school will welcome a group of boys and girls from Ukraine who have signed on the roll books for their first classes.

The quiet, countryside hub, located midway between Swinford and Kiltimagh, is the ideal setting for the young pupils, aged from four to 12, to settle into their new life in Ireland after the trauma of fleeing the war in their home country.

Principal Margaret Noone-Reilly, staff and pupils have been busy since last week preparing a warm welcome for the children on their official first day in school.

The pupils in Kinaffe were excited to meet their new friends when they dropped by for a familiarisation visit on Friday.

The pupils are among the 70 Ukranian children residing at the Breaffy Woods Hotel and who are now attending four primary schools - Breaffy, Belcarra, Balla and Kinaffe.

Said Ms. Noone-Reilly: "We wanted to do something to help out. The community too had asked if there was anything we could do.

"We have the accommodation and the personnel and so we reached out to see how we could help the children."

Kinaffe NS has every modern amenity and Ms. Noone-Reilly hopes the quietness of the country and the small school setting will help the children as they begin their journey of healing and education in Ireland.

"What these children need now is love and care and a safe space as they rebuild their lives," she said.