WELL KNOWN Ukrainian model and fashion blogger Karina Lira has praised the people of Clare for the “unbelievable kindness” they’ve shown the refugees fleeing her war-torn homeland.

Karina, who now lives in Lisdoonvarna, left her home in Kyiv for the Polish border the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine before flying to Ireland with her family one month later to escape “the fear of shelling and the craziness of the war”.

“When I was leaving my homeland, it was like I was in a coma, I couldn’t even think. I was just terrified of everything and kind of ashamed of what I was doing, leaving my country. We had no accommodation, no work and we just arrived and went to a policeman and said ‘we are from Ukraine and we need shelter’. It was very stressful to go somewhere when you don’t know what to expect or where you’re going to live but actually everything turned out very good,” she recounted.

While moving from Kiev, a city of 3 million inhabitants, to Lisdoonvarna, a town of less than a 1,000, may seem like it would be a difficult adjustment, in actual fact Karina says the peace and quiet of Clare was exactly what she needed to recover from the trauma of war.

She explained, “what Ukrainians needed at that time was just a safe, quiet place where you can take a break from your PTSD. I was afraid of loud noises and airplanes. I wasn’t very comfortable in big cities because when you see people and they’re just having some fun, they’re drinking and eating, I was just feeling it’s not fair, I can’t drink and eat in a café while my friends and all my country are in horror, living in shelters and in basements. In some ways Irish nature was like a cure to me. When I was in cities here, I was feeling anxious and nervous, but in nature, especially in Clare, [I was much better]. Many people say that Clare has the most beautiful nature in Ireland and when you have problems with your anxiety Irish nature is the best”.

While in Ireland, Karina has continued posting on her fashion blog, including some photos from around Clare. Karina’s blog grew out of an interest in photography while she was in secondary school. Seven years later it’s now her full-time job with 300,000 followers on her Instagram page Lira_Karina. Last Friday, she launched her new course on the history of fashion from the mid-19th century all the way through to the 1990s on her website karinalira.com.

Karina commended both the Irish people and the Government for the support they’ve given refugees. She said, “Irish people are famous for being the most polite, kindest nation in the world and I would say that that’s true. People here are unbelievably kind. I was so surprised how nice people are here, they’re so supportive and welcoming. I think Irish people understand us perfectly because you had the same problems, you had to fight for your independence too”.

Related News

ennis courthouse tent 24-02-21 4
Clare man who coercively controlled wife faces 'significant custodial sentence'
lahinch promenade car park 21-08-23 4
'Dog SWAT team' needed to clamp down on disgusting behaviour on Clare beaches
TMP_8668
'We Are Human Too' launch hears calls to end shocking discrimination towards persons with disabilities
david griffin
Council not delivering on the 'bread & butter issues' - Griffin
Latest News
avenue utd v tulla utd 10-04-24 éanna culloo cullen mccabe 1
All too easy as Avenue advance past Tulla to Clare Cup quarter-finals
lahinch promenade car park 21-08-23 4
'Dog SWAT team' needed to clamp down on disgusting behaviour on Clare beaches
banner ladies v west clare gaels 14-10-23 louise henchy 1
Clare trio play their part in Masters victories
clare v kilkenny 10-03-24 cian galvin peter duggan david reidy 1
Player Ratings: Clare vs Kilkenny
TMP_8668
'We Are Human Too' launch hears calls to end shocking discrimination towards persons with disabilities
Premium
clare v kilkenny 10-03-24 cian galvin peter duggan david reidy 1
Player Ratings: Clare vs Kilkenny
TMP_8668
'We Are Human Too' launch hears calls to end shocking discrimination towards persons with disabilities
agriculture hay bales farm 1
Acres Scheme has let down farmers in North Clare
newmarket celtic 1
Newmarket Celtic carve out more history by claiming Munster Champions Cup
clare v kilkenny 10-03-24 brian lohan 1
Limerick still 'head and shoulders' above the rest - Lohan

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top