International reporting

Ireland: Port town of Rosslare welcomes Ukrainian refugees

Audio 02:31

View of Rosslare and its harbour, Ireland.

© Getty Images/Pat Reilly

By: Laura Taouchanov

3 mins

In the south of Ireland, the European port of Rosslare is the second reception point for Ukrainian refugees after Dublin airport.

17,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the country since the beginning of the conflict.

The boat is the mode of transport chosen by those who travel with their car or their animals.

This is yet another upheaval in this port which has already been transformed by Brexit.

The 450 weekly Ukrainian refugees arrive precisely on these new connections added with Cherbourg, in France.

The trip is offered to them by the company Stena Line and they are welcomed by 200 volunteers who take turns on site. 

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From our correspondent in Dublin,

A huge Stena Line ferry has just docked at the port.

The man running around with the phone to his ear is called Sean Boyce.

The Rosslare native is coordinating humanitarian aid for the 37 Ukrainian refugees on board this morning.

It's the end of a long journey and the beginning of another emotional journey.

They're in a new country, the adrenaline is gone and it's like a break for them

 ,” says Sean.

Signs translated into Ukrainian indicate a huge marquee where refugees can help themselves to clothes, diapers, new underwear, dog food, 30,000 euros in donations in total.

“ 

We are a port village, we see new people all the time.

And it's also our story as Irish people.

We have a difficult past and there is this desire in us to help

.

»

► Also to listen: Ireland organizes itself to welcome Ukrainian refugees

With her big bag on her back, Natalia helps herself to some canned goods for later.

The floor of a church, a hotel, a family.

The rest of the journey is still unknown for this young teacher and her daughter.

“ 

I come from Mykolaiv, in the south.

It was a long trip… We left on March 10,

 ” she explains.

She left many loved ones behind.

My mother, my son in Odessa.

My grandfather and my uncle

 ,” adds Natalia.

She chose Ireland “ 

because [she] speaks English and the people are nice and open, a bit like back home

.

»  

“We do it day by day”

Sean shows a picture of his puppy Ted to Natalia's daughter who has just chosen a stuffed dog for herself in the play area. " 

Can you call him Ted too maybe?"

 The girl nods.

She is 6 and a half years old

,” says Natalia.

I did not explain to him that we are at war.

I say we're on a trip, she understands.

We do it day by day.

» 

Many of these refugees do not speak English.

Dimitri is a Ukrainian translator who has lived in Ireland for 20 years.

He connects the small nights to help his compatriots on his free time.

I show them how the system works for education, for children, how to fill out the forms… Can you imagine if your house was bombed before your eyes?

The most important thing is that we understand them and welcome them with the heart.

The rest will follow

.

» 

Here, refugees are given a SIM card and a PPS number to work.

Many employers in the region have already come forward to recruit these Ukrainians into their businesses.

© RFI

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  • Ireland

  • Ukraine

  • Refugees