The Spirit of Duhallow: Families Settle In The Area

By HELEN O’SULLIVAN

On the 24th February war broke out in Ukraine when Russia launched its attack and changed the life of all Ukrainians living there. However, as we all well know it has also impacted on the lives of people across the world including Ireland and here in Duhallow. Ireland has opened its door to those fleeing the war, Duhallow included. Ukrainian families have started to relocate and settle into communities across the region and it is lovely to see how communities and neighbours have come out to welcome them.

Undoubtedly they have been through unimaginable trauma and experiences to get here and we cannot underestimate how traumatic and life changing all of this has been for them. Coupled with a different language is a different culture, education system, health system etc. IRD Duhallow has been working on the ground to reach out to them in an effort to get information to such families and help them access supports they are entitled to as well as start to settle into the area.

Olena Lobchenko and Svitlana Chornous - sisters in law with their kids and host family the O'Callaghans. Their kids started school in Lismire N.S. and Boherbue Comprehensive School in recent weeks.

Urgent Calls for donations and volunteering were put out on social media and the people of Duhallow did not let us down. Instead we were inundated with offers of help, donations of clothes, toys etc. Offers to translate too with a surprisingly large number of people being able to speak Russian in Duhallow which Ukrainians obviously also speak. This has proven invaluable to us.

It is heart-warming to see such a response. It is this spirit of volunteerism which we are seeing that will really help our new Ukrainian friends to get settled here faster. Some children have already started school in the region both primary and secondary and again local schools were only too willing to help. To see local children immediately welcome and engage with Ukrainian kids through fun and play and not through language made us all realise how possible this all is.

Last weekend the community of Banteer were given short notice to take some refugees into their community facility as a short term rest centre and they did. An unimaginable effort of voluntary work was undertaken over a short number of days. People of all ages and backgrounds coming out to offer their time willing to do anything to help. With a plan currently being put in place to organise different activities for the new residents of Banteer once again we know we will see all the local sports clubs coming out together to help with this. If there are other groups or individuals in the region willing to help out in delivering such activities also we would love to hear from you

Millstreet is next on the list with a much larger number of refugees expected into the town in the coming days. For the Duhallow region, it is undoubtedly a big ask to take another 300-400 refugees. However, as a region this is where we will need all the communities to help the communities of Millstreet and Banteer. Local clubs and organisations will need to step up and help to make this Duhallow wide response a success.

As a region we have a large number of employers with many looking for skilled workers in a wide number of sectors. We are currently undertaking a skills audit of those Ukrainians already here and our job centre will match them with such vacancies. A survey has already gone out to a vast number of employers in the region to help collate this information.

Accommodation and transport are without question the 2 biggest obstacles in the way of helping these people settle in Duhallow. We are asking local employers to consider what accommodation is in your area that you could source for potential employees. Local Link Cork has come on board in the short term with IRD Duhallow to help provide transport from Banteer to Kanturk so they can access local shops, post office etc in the town.

Kateryna’s Experience

Life was divided into “before” and “after” on February 24th. My family was forced to flee the house in Irpin, Kyiv suburb in Ukraine after Russian brutal military attack. That day I could not even imagine splitting up from my husband and ending 3000 km away from home in Ireland with two kids just a few weeks after. Anxiety, horror, hatred, grief were common emotions experienced back those days, leaving little chance to “pulling yourself together” and “getting back to normal”. At some point the strong desire to secure my little sons` physical and mental health prevailed over difficulties and fears of leaving for another country. Unfortunately, there was no safe place in Ukraine. Ireland has welcomed my family with open arms and compassionate support. We were happily settled with a great family. Kids were signed up for the local school, already got friends, who are helping them to integrate. Our experience has been very positive. The people we met are phenomenal. We finally feel safe and eternally thankful for all the care and support!

Kateryna Shapovalova Sakhno and her kids Mark and Alexander in Banteer