Parades ‘could be snowed under’

home. “Last week, I bought a beautiful dress and said” ‘I have to send a picture to my friends’. Then I thought” ‘Oh no, it’s not a good time for that’. I felt guilty.

“My friends have told me: ‘Don’t worry, you shouldn’t feel like this, you are allowed to be happy’. So I have this conflict with myself quite often.”

As the war in her homeland rages on, it pauses any plans Alex has to return — but she is determined to travel home “when we win”.

She was involved in the recent Ukrainian Action in Ireland event, Fighting for Europe – One Year of Russian war against Ukraine, which took place at the GPO.

“It was simply to show people we are still here and doing everything we can to support the Ukrainian community in Ireland and back home,” said Alex.

“We are also hoping to fundraise for people who need it right now. For me, it’s great to have the spiritual community of The Salvation Army around, I can feel and see their support every day. “They are there, no matter what. They have given me everything I have right now.”

YOU would have to think back to 2018 and that ‘Beast from the East’ which put St Patrick’s Day celebrations on ice with wintry blasts and falls of snow. But this year could bring a similar weather event, which means a lot of Irish dancing will be needed to keep warm at the parades. Irish punters at least are betting on snow fall on St Patrick’s Day this year, as BoyleSports has slashed the odds in half.

While Met Eireann has poured cold water on anything as extreme as ‘Beast from the East Part 2’ invading Ireland, it hasn’t put punters off predicting a flurry on March 17th. It’s now 5/1 from 10/1 for a white St Patrick’s Day after the latest weather forecasts indicated a chance of snowy conditions in mid-March.

The chances of snow falling in Dublin on Easter Sunday, on April 9th, are a 20/1 shot, from 33/1 earlier.

Sarah Kinsella, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “Met Eireann have said there is a good chance of snow falling this month, but we’ll be the ones feeling the heat because a growing number of punters are bracing themselves for a payday on March 17th.”