Ukrainian refugees are helping to address staff shortages in the hospitality sector in Conamara (Connemara).
Several new arrivals have been taken on by local hotels preparing for the summer holiday season.
Among them, six women from various parts of the war-torn country, who are being accommodated in Carna.
They travel by bus each day to work at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden.
Less than two months ago, they had jobs in marketing, logistics, hospitality and healthcare. Now their daily work routine has taken on a whole new meaning.
"For me, to start something new was very, very difficult, but I'm really happy that I have such opportunity to do something, because this job helps me to forget some bad feelings, some stress, which I had before and focus on something else," said Maryna Plamadil, who has travelled from Odessa.
Those sentiments were echoed by Maya Ischuk, a chef from Kyiv.
"This is a very good opportunity to focus on something else and not what’s going on in my hometown," she said.
"This job helps me to feel like life is normal, like it was before the war."
The women are carrying out a range of functions at the hotel and work five hours a day, to a maximum of 20 hours per week.
"I want to be useful. I want to do something and, really, I want to earn money to help my relatives," Ms Plamadil said.
"These are the people who are right now in very bad conditions. Every day we pray for them and hope that everything will be good for them."
She went on to outline how the circumstances for each refugee differed. Some are not yet ready to leave their rooms. Others have difficulty talking about the situation in Ukraine and the problems are particularly apparent for teenagers, who have been uprooted to a place 3,500km from their home.
Despite the tumultuous circumstances of their departure from their homeland, their journeys into the unknown and their ultimate resettlement on the western fringes of Europe, the Ukrainian refugees working at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel have somehow managed to keep going.
The extent of the toll the last two months has taken on them is visible when they discuss their previous lives and the loved ones they left behind.
However, all are adamant that their decision to travel, while unpalatable, was necessary, for reasons specific to each individual.
They say working in the hotel gives them a slice of some kind of normality, in the face of such sadness and loss. Their efforts here are focused on the people fighting for their country's future.
Abbeyglen Castle Manager Brian Hughes said the new staff were providing a vital service to the hotel.
"It’s no secret that there are recruitment issues in the hospitality sector. These wonderful people have made it easy for us to prepare for the season ahead and they are making a brilliant contribution to the hotel and the locality," Mr Hughes said.
He added that several businesses in the town were exploring the possibility of providing employment to refugees in the coming weeks.
Ms Plamadil said she has been struck by how once simple phrases have taken on a whole new importance.
"Everyday when I communicate with my parents, I finish my conversation with the words 'We wish you peace and a very good night’.
"Nowadays, I have started to realise the meaning of these words. Before it was like 'good night, good night…’ now I know how important a simple wish like that can be."
