Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit is seen as an opportunity to witness the solidarity shown to Ukraine in towns and villages across Ireland.
There are now some 84,000 Ukrainians living here.
St Joseph's Community College in Kilkee, Co Clare, invited families living in the area to watch the president’s address this afternoon with their children. Almost a quarter of the pupils at the school are Ukrainian.
Oksana Semenova teaches English at the school, and her son Ivan is preparing for his Leaving Certificate. They are from Odessa in southern Ukraine. She says Mr Zelensky’s visit highlights the strong friendship between the two countries.
"We feel seen. We are not invisible. That makes us proud. Yes, that's the word. It also means that Ukraine can hope for more support from Europe," she said.
However, she said she feels torn between Ireland and Ukraine.
"We go to work, the children go to a school, but on a day-by-day basis we are connected with Ukraine. We check the news, check what the situation is like in our hometowns.
"Ireland has been very good to us but hopefully I will return to Ukraine one day"
"Dreadful things are happening on a regular basis, so it’s hard to say. It feels as if we are torn between two countries."
Oksana’s son Ivan is very pleased to see Mr Zelensky visit Ireland.
"He is a good man and probably the best president Ukraine has ever had. I think he is trying very hard to get peace in our country and I hope the talks go well and that America will support him.
"It means a lot to be here in Kilkee knowing that our president is visiting the country we live in now. Ireland has been very good to us but hopefully I will return to Ukraine one day."
Varvara Yukhova is in 1st year at St Joseph’s Community College, and her eyes light up when she speaks of Kilkee.
"It’s amazing. I love it here and I’ve got my friends, and I live in such a beautiful town by the sea. I may go to university here too. But I would like to return to Ukraine one day to help. Terrible things are happening in my country, and I still have family there," she said.
Agnes Hehir is principal, and she reflected on how well the students have integrated into school and community life.
"It shows the solidarity between our two countries"
"Never did I think that four years on that we would still have a group of Ukrainians that has brought so much to our school. We never thought that we would be offering Ukrainian and Russian as oral subjects in the school," she said.
She added: "They have integrated fantastically here, and they have really used the opportunity that they were given".
She said there was a great buzz around the school as Transition Year students made mince pies ahead of sitting down to watch Mr Zelensky’s address.
"It's fantastic that President Zelensky is in Ireland and it's the first official visit, and it shows the solidarity between our two countries.
"The war is still ongoing but he's trying his best because at the end of the day, there is trauma at the back of this and they need our support more than ever."
