REFUGEES FLEEING war-torn Ukraine have begun to arrive in Co Clare.
The Clare Echo has learned that an estimated 500 Ukrainians are to take up residence in Lisdoonvarna at The Hydro Hotel and The Imperial Hotel in Lisdoonvarnawhile an approximate 80 refugees are to arrive at the Kilkee Bay Hotel, 48 of which have already landed.
Across the country more than 20,000 offers to provide accommodation to Ukrainian refugees have been made, 15,000 offers have been made through the Government’s pledge portal which includes spare rooms and vacant second homes. Clare is likely to take in over 1,000 new residents.
Doors have been opened from Ukraine natives living in Ennis and Shannon to refugees with family members arriving in the county this week including Mariya Nikishanova in Park Avenue, Ennis who has welcomed Maryna Biriukova-Stefaniuk (35) and her two daughters, Solomiia (13) and Anna-Mariya (9).
Owner of the Hydro Hotel, Marcus White told The Clare Echo that the situation was very fluid presently with matters changing daily making it difficult to make predictions. “They are under a safe roof, they have heating and food, that is our priority at the moment. The Irish Government have to be commended and the Irish people for their kindness and compassion,” he said of their arrival.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) stressed the need for the appointment of a community liaison official to help co-ordinate and manage the workload involved in aiding the people of Ukraine assimilate into their new communities.
He said, “We need to make sure we’re setting up processes to manage and not firefight the whole time. We are dealing with seriously traumatised people, they are bewildered and they do not need to be bewildered further. The natural West Clare and Irish thing is to wrap our arms around these people but it is crucially important that some community liaison officer is put in place to help”.
While people are eager to help, organised structures are essential, the Kilkee man believed so that grief counsellors and interpreters can be arranged where necessary and efforts made to bring the children of Ukraine into the Irish school system, details like the ages of the children arriving and their clothes sizes are also needed, “this won’t magically happen”.
Murphy continued, “We have the infrastructure and the facilities, we need to look at what we have and make it work. This is an urgent need, we need to act now rather than spend the next six months ticking the boxes”.
Lisdoonvarna based, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) admitted that the situation was heart-breaking. “Our local community groups are working together to be available and supporting in every way possible. We are working alongside and supporting the host facilities, agencies and across the community where help is needed. This is a time for Ireland to show what welcome really means when its most needed in a time of unimaginable distress for the Ukraine people and we will do this in Lisdoonvarna, Kilkee throughout Clare and Ireland”.
Garrihy noted that there is “a special connection” to Ukraine in the locality “since Lisdoonvarna and Doolin hosted The Special Olympics Delegation from Ukraine in 2003 and the work of the Burren Chernobyl action group, they left a big positive impact on us then, little did we know how tome would throw us together again in this situation. We will do everything needed”.
