Ukrainian nationals find safe haven – thanks to Galway castle owner
Nine Ukrainian nationals who have been forced to flee war at home have found safe harbour in Ballindooley Castle on the outskirts of Galway City.
Its owner, Armagh man Barry Haughian, set off across Europe last week to offer a refuge to some of those desperately fleeing Ukraine and since last Friday, four families of women and their children have been safely holed up at the 15th Century castle.
Barry, who bought the restored Norman castle around five years ago, lives and works in Spain and says a conversation among friends last week sparked the idea.
“I was sitting in Spain last Tuesday with friends and we were talking about what we could do. I live in Madrid and we couldn’t bring them there but I thought of Ballindooley,” says Barry who lives in the Spanish capital with his wife, Lola, and two children.
“That night, I booked a flight to Warsaw in Poland and put up a post on social media – four families got in touch.”
It’s Barry’s intention to return to Spain in a couple of weeks, once Ballindooley’s new residents are settled in.
Read the full heart-warming 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