The Kerryman (North Kerry)

‘KERRY’ S GOLD IS ITS PEOPLE’ Alexey says thanks to the people of Waterville

FROM WAR-TORN DONETSK, ALEXEY NOROV MOVED TO CHARLEVILL­E AFTER SPENDING TWO YEARS IN WATERVILLE. HE HAS PENNED A LETTER TO SAY THANKS AFTER THE VILLAGE WELCOMED HIM AND HIS FAMILY

IT’S been over two years since we gave our first interview in Ireland. We were interviewe­d by reporter Declan Malone from The Kerryman newspaper in Dingle in April 2022.

Upon arrival in Dublin, we were taken by bus to the Villa Maria hotel in Waterville. We were met straight from the bus by Fiona Fitzpatric­k and her husband, Dan Fitzpatric­k, then they helped us settle in at their premises.

This was the first Irish family who cared about us and we were the first residents in their hotel. Initially, the settlement was planned for only four days but, thanks to Fiona, we ended up living in the villa for over two years.

My wife and children got jobs in this hotel. It was an interestin­g stage in our lives, during which we found a real Irish family.

The people of Waterville are friendly, helpful, always smiling and will easily keep up a conversati­on, especially about the weather. From the very first days, wonderful people, Paddy and Fiona de Buis, came to us, they helped us in every way to integrate into the local community, taught us English, arranged hiking for us in the mountains of Waterville, organised boat trips for us and bus trips to the most beautiful places in Kerry, such as Ballinskel­ligs and Dingle.

Paddy is a very talented poet and writer; his words were a balm for our souls in those days.

The care of Paddy and his family eased our mental anguish, which especially worried us at first.

Each Christmas, Paddy invited us to his house and we talked for hours there in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Also, my youngest son, Vladislav, was able to grow potatoes in Paddy’s garden plot, write a project and get additional points for his Leaving Certificat­e. Paddy jokingly called these points “potato points”.

A couple of days after we moved in, Cllr Norma Moriarty came to visit us and was always there to help us with our needs.

I can’t help but mention our friend, artist Leo Quinlan, who kindly invited us to visit his art gallery in Waterville and try our hand at drawing. He gave us paints, canvases, and each of us then painted our own picture, these pictures are still carefully kept by us. Leo, as we later learned, is the son of a brave and courageous hero of Ireland – Colonel Patrick Quinlan.

Leo, being the son of a colonel, followed in his father’s footsteps and dedicated his life to military service. Leo supported and helped us in everything during our life in Waterville, was kind, honest and noble with us. We will never forget his kindness and nobility.

The staff of the villa are good and kind people, they welcomed us very warmly, helped us in every possible way in different matters.

Sheila O’Connell, who works at the villa, has a special place in our hearts – and stomachs, as her apple pie is the most delicious apple pie we have ever tried!

Another staff member, Lorraine Reagan, bought all the necessary supplies and lunchboxes for our children for the beginning of the new school year in 2022. I remember how Shona, daughter of Fiona and Den, took our children to school on the first day of classes. It was exciting and touching at the same time. Our children studied at Coláiste na Sceilge for two years.

The teachers helped to adapt and gave the necessary knowledge to our children. Each of the teachers made their own contributi­on to the future of our children.

I got a full-time job at the Hudson Bay Group, which is owned by a noble and respected man from Kerry – John O’Sullivan.

Wherever we went, to the store, to the pharmacy, to the hospital or just to walk by the ocean, we met good Kerry people everywhere.

We accept this as a gift of

THE PEOPLE OF WATERVILLE ARE FRIENDLY, HELPFUL, ALWAYS SMILING AND EASILY KEEP UP A CONVERSATI­ON.

fate, sent to us by God. We are grateful to every resident of Waterville, including the pharmacist from the Waterville pharmacy, Mervyn Moriarty who helped us a lot with treatment, he is a very kind person.

Government organisati­on IOM has now provided a modular home in Charlevill­e for us and we resettled last Wednesday, September 11. Thankfully we are doing well, but we know that we have a large and friendly family in Waterville!

Memories of beautiful, kind Kerry and its main value, its kind and good people, will remain with us forever.