Galway opens homes and hearts to Ukrainian arrivals

Nationally, 20,000 offers of a place to stay have been made over the past three weeks with Galway among the top three – just behind Dublin and Cork.

A spokesperson for the Irish Red Cross – the organisation coordinating the allocation of these spaces – said they had received an overwhelming response from the public, adding that over two-thirds of the offers had been to welcome those fleeing war-torn Ukraine into a room in their own home.

“We are astounded and very grateful for the numbers of people in Galway pledging accommodation on the Irish Red Cross portal,” the spokesperson told the Connacht Tribune.

“At this point, we would just ask those making the pledges for their patience as it could be two to three weeks before we contact them due to the unprecedented response we’ve had.”

One area where locals have been out in force to offer support to those fleeing Ukraine has been Newbridge in North East Galway – over 100 volunteers turned out over the weekend to transform a disused school into rooms for refugees and a hub for those staying in houses locally.

Electrical contractor Seán Gavin coordinated the group who volunteered their efforts and expertise to overhaul Killyan National School which has been closed for over ten years.

Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops as usual this Thursday – or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie