Christmas celebrations started on Wednesday last for local girl Andrea Keogh as she welcomed Maryna Tsitive and Nastya Zaitsava, two Chernobyl girls who will be spending the holidays with her at her home in Kilkenny.
Sixty children and young adults arrived from Belarus and will be spending Christmas in Ireland, catching up on much-needed medical care and receiving tender loving care from their Irish family and friends.
The Kilkenny Advertiser caught up with Ms Keogh to see how the two girls were settling in after they arrived into Dublin airport and featured on RTE news at nine O’ clock.
“They arrived safe and sound and are delighted to be here,” she enthused.
The girls got here a day early this year which will make a huge difference to their stay,” she added.
Andrea first visited Belarus back in 2007 with Kilkenny's Outreach group as part of the medical team and has been on several trips since.
"I met the girls while I was working as a volunteer in Belarus, I met Maryna first and we developed a special bond and fell in love with her.
“The children are not allowed to travel until they are 7 years of age in Chernobyl and so as soon as she was eligible to travel she made her first trip over to Kilkenny.
“This is Nastya's second visit over and she completely understands about Christmas and is really looking forward to it. Maryna doesn't really understand it but she gets really excited when she sees all the presents. They will be spending a traditional Irish Christmas at home with my family and we are going to bring them to visit Santa in Kilkenny too,” said Andrea.
The trip was organised by Adi Roche's Chernobyl Children International charity which has been working to improve conditions in the orphanages and family poverty which these children have fallen victim.
