Councillor opens doors for family fleeing war in Ukraine

From this week’s City Tribune – A Galway City councillor is among thousands nationwide opening their homes to Ukrainian refugees fleeing war.

Cllr Frank Fahy told the Galway City Tribune that as part of an arrangement with neighbours in Menlo, he would be taking in one young man while his three sisters and their mother would be staying just over the road.

“He’s 17 or 18 and he’s due to arrive into Shannon Airport on Sunday morning – I’ve been in touch with him on Messenger and the family is currently in Budapest.

“They were due to be here sooner but the mother has had to have emergency surgery, so he’s flying in at the weekend,” said Cllr Fahy.

He said having discussed with his new lodger what he wanted to do when he arrives, it had been established that he was at university in Ukraine prior to the Russian invasion.

“We were talking on the phone and he has fantastic English. He’s in college in Ukraine so I’ve been liaising with my Council colleague, Imelda Byrne, who is over the Access Office in NUIG to see if we can get him a place there or at GMIT – I was up to meet them this morning.

“I’d like it for life to be as normal as possible for him,” said Cllr Fahy.

Initially, it had been his plan to drive a coach from Galway to Poland with supplies and bring refugees back to Ireland but that’s on hold for the moment, said the former mayor.

This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the story, as well as the Bearna couple who have taken in a family, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.