A former monastery in Co Kildare has become a temporary home for dozens of families fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Liffey Lodge, the former residence of the Patrician Brothers in Newbridge, was purchased for €800,000 in recent months by Kildare County Council.
The sprawling 13-bedroom property, which spans 7,000 square feet, sits on the banks of the River Liffey in the town.
The property includes a chapel, three reception rooms, three offices and a large hall.
A Kildare County Council spokesperson said Liffey Lodge has been used to provide a rest centre for displaced persons arriving from Ukraine.
The Patrician Brothers have a long association with Newbridge and founded the Patrician Secondary School in the town in the late 1950s.
The council said that an earlier feasibility study on the long-term use of Liffey Lodge concluded that it is suitable for age-friendly accommodation for the community.
Local councillors and community groups had previously called for Liffey Lodge to be converted for community use.
Newbridge Community Development (NCD) and the Newbridge Family Resource Centre (NFRC) both agreed to help deliver a multi-faceted community facility on the site.
