PHOTOS County’s first Ukranian hurlers at Limerick’s Tara House

Four of the children at Tara House are the County’s first Ukranian hurlers. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

Ukrainian residents mark six months since the Tara House centre welcomed residents from Ukraine with four of the children believed to be the County’s first Ukranian hurlers

Deputy Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Councillor Dan McSweeney, visited the Tara House temporary accommodation centre in Clarina marking six months since the centre welcomed residents from Ukraine.

The residents received an overwhelmingly warm reception from the local community which created an inclusive environment fostering cultural exchange.

In the last six months, the residents have seamlessly integrated in their new surroundings and gotten involved in the local community. More than 20 of the residents are working, the children attend the local schools and play for the local sports clubs.

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Four of the children play hurling for Ballybrown which is quite possibly the first instance of Ukrainian children hurling in the county.

“The children have been fantastic,” exclaimed Owen O’Sullivan, Tara House Manager, saying, “I’m very proud of the fact, as a hurling man myself, I am proud to say that we have the first Ukranian hurlers certainly in County Limerick if not in the whole country.”

“I must also say about these people that they’re very very committed to each other, and it’s a fantastic sense of community and it’s almost like coming home when I come in here every day as it has been.”

“We would like to celebrate their successful integration into Ireland and our community, we are very happy to welcome everybody here today,” said Owen O’Sullivan.

“I’ve been coming to Clarina now for eight or nine years to work, and the people of Clarina in my opinion are second to none when it comes to hospitality and just downright decency and I’m very grateful to the people of Clarina for the welcome they’ve shown these people,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The Tara House Manager spoke about who he affectionately referred to as “my Ukranians”, noting even though the residents are going through a “living hell” he said, “Every morning that I come in here I get smiles and positivity.”

“These people are fantastic, they have built a fantastic community here in Tara House,” he noted.

Also, over 20 of the children attend English language lessons on a voluntary basis for 3 days each week over the summer holidays.

“It’s important to note these children have an hour of their time, three days a week, with a determined effort to learn the English language. So there’s no other kids that I’m aware of giving up their time and their summer holidays.

“We had a vote last week, there was 25 in the class and I, just as a matter of interest, said, ‘okay we can finish this lesson today if you like or we can continue’, and I’m glad to say that 23 people put their hands up and said ‘mp, we’d like to learn English’,” he concluded.

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Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick