After two years living at Knockalisheen Camp in County Clare, refugees from Hungary are departing.
In November 1956, the Soviet Union used tanks to crush a national uprising in Hungary. Thousands of people fled Hungary in fear. Ireland was among the countries that agreed to accept refugees. Many of the 500 individuals who left Hungary and found themselves in Ireland in December 1956 were housed temporarily in an old army camp at Knockalisheen. The refugees are now leaving for Canada and other destinations.
Soon, this little bit of Central Europe on the west coast will be just another army camp.
After a farewell concert, reporter John Ross spoke to some of the Hungarian children. One young girl named Katalin is staying in Ireland but is moving with her family to Dublin.
Edward Murphy, the Red Cross camp controller and area director for County Clare delivered a speech to the Hungarians at the farewell party.
After almost two years in Ireland, it is only natural that you will bring with you impressions of our way of life. We believe in the right of every person to live his life in his own way. We do not believe that the state has full control of our lives. We believe that the state is there to protect and help us in the very many problems that have to be met daily.
Edward Murphy goes on to say people in Ireland are free to speak and criticise. Above all they can insist on respect for the family and the right of parents to control their children and to raise them "in the fear and love of God". He is hopeful that the departing Hungarians will always uphold these beliefs.
The Hungarian leader and aircraft mechanic Josef Cook spoke on behalf of the refugees.
Hungarian refugees, who are leaving for Canada, would like to express our sincerest thanks to our host, the Irish people who kindly gave us shelter for the past two years. God Bless Ireland and God Bless the Irish people. We will never forget you.
The children performed a Hungarian folk song called 'Megyen már a hajnalcsillag lefelé' (The Evening Star Song).
During the two years at Kncokalisheen, three interpreters have been on duty the entire time. One of them is Hungarian-born Dorit O'Shaughnessy who is married to an Irish man and has been living in Ireland for the past five years. When the refugees arrived, she offered her services as a voluntary interpreter.
Assistant Camp boss, Eileen Clancy says that the Hungarians will be missed when they have gone.
This episode of 'Provincial News Roundup' was broadcast on 31 August 1958. The reporter is John Ross.
From the RTÉ Archives Acetate Disc Collection which has been digitised with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) Archiving Scheme.
