“All the boys” in a South Dublin community are upset about the looming deportation of a family back to South Africa, a local rugby coach has said. 

Yesterday, hundreds of people delivered letters to the Department of Justice urging the Minister to cancel the deportation of the Oyekanmi  family from Ireland. 

The family of four arrived in Ireland in October 2023 but their application for asylum was rejected. 

On Lunchtime Live, Titilayo Oluwakemi Oyekanmi said she and her three sons desperately want to stay in Ireland. 

 “I don't know what will happen tomorrow,” she explained. 

“We came here for asylum because of the attack on myself and on my children.

“Then for Dublin to send us back to South Africa is going to cause a huge damage on myself and my children.

“So, we are pleading for the community and the general island to please pardon us and allow us to stay.” 

Samuel Oyekanmi.

When the Oyekanmi family arrived in Ireland, the three boys were 16, 12 and three. 

Two years on, Ms Oyekanmi feels they have “settled in completely” into life in Dublin. 

“I started volunteering and my sons, they're engaged in school and sports and they're doing very well,” she said.  

“So, we settled very well in Ireland before we received this shock news and this shock letter.”

The middle son, Sameul, has received a scholarship to study at Gonzaga College and excelled in athletics and his academics. 

“Taking us back is going to cause a huge damage in their mental health,” she argued. 

Also on the programme, local rugby coach Finbar O’Brien said the family are a credit to the local community. 

“Sam would be the one I would be, I'd be involved in,” he said. 

“I still manage the under 20 team, which he's now on. 

“I've got to know them over the last two years and I got to know the whole family through Sam walking into the club and then got to know the other two boys and Titi over that time as well.

“They're just lovely kids; they're all respectful, they're polite, they're dedicated to their sport, to their study.” 

Mr O’Brien added that there is huge community support for the family’s efforts to stay in Ireland. 

“It was great to see the boys there from Gonzaga, the boys there from the rugby club, the boys there from the athletics club, people there from the church,” he said. 

“There is a huge community around them; we're all trying to help them out at the moment - all the boys are upset.” 

The Oyekanmi family are due to sign a letter of deportation on Thursday, after which a date for them to leave Ireland will be arranged.

Main image: The Oyekanmi family. Image supplied.