Ukrainians living in Galway are holding a series of events today to mark the fourth anniversary of the most recent Russian invasion of their country.
Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show almost 6,000 people who have fled the war are living in Co Galway. Around half of them reside in and around the city.
At a rally this afternoon, around 100 Ukrainians gathered to show solidarity with their compatriots and to call for greater supports for their country's effort to push back on aggression by Moscow.
Those in attendance spoke of the upset and trauma they had experienced, as well as expressing hope that the conflict could conclude without any loss of Ukrainian territory.
Artem Kvashyn said he had mixed emotions, four years from the start of the 2022 invasion.
"We’re very welcome in Galway and appreciate that greatly but we are very upset at what's happened in our homeland," he said.
He said that as a result of the war he had lost everything and has no home to return to.
Mr Kvashyn said he felt, at this stage, there was little to be achieved by having further dialogue with the administration of Vladimir Putin.
"As you see, Trump tried to talk and talk and all the year just talking, nothing changed. So we have to now unite and stop them", he said.
16-year-old Myron Samoilik said he had seen huge changes in the three years before he travelled to Ireland in 2025.
"I lived in Kharkiv. This so close to Russia, maybe 10 kilometres.
"And this was so, so scary, because when, when the war started I heard so many bombs…and out the window, I see many tanks," he said.
Now living in Headford, he said he was enjoying school and some degree of normality. But he also feels the pain of separation from his parents, who are still in Ukraine.
"My wish is that war is gone" he said.
"I really want to go home and meet my grandfather, my dad, my mother, my friends, and this my is my first wish."
Svitlana Riabinina said the welcome from Irish people to those fleeing the invasion had been amazing.
But she said it was sobering to think that the situation had persisted for so long.
"We always hope that it's ended and we start to live our common life in Ukraine. We hope that there will be peace for long time, not for months or weeks or even year, because we need to have a strong future," she said.
Today’s events are being organised by the Ukrainians Helping Ukrainians In Galway (UHUG) group.
It has recently completed a survey of more than 1,000 people who have moved here since 2022, which found that 60% were in paid employment and around 80% intend to stay in Ireland.
Olena Bratchenko said in many instances this was because people had lost everything as a result of the ongoing bombing.
She said that while the support and welcome from Irish people had not waned, many of those who responded to the survey were still struggling with a language barrier.
Ms Bratchenko said the provision of dedicated English classes could help to address this and smooth the transition for those who intended on maintaining a presence here in the coming years.
