‘The people of Athboy were so welcoming, they accepted us'

Leah Doherty

A STEEL sculpture located at Thornton’s Garden in Athboy was recently installed this year on behalf of Athboy Tidy Towns to welcome, recognise and honour the Ukrainian community of Athboy.

The sculpture called the ‘Union of Two Lands’ was commissioned due to a generous grant received from the Community Recognition Fund under the Department of Rural and Community development.

“Because it was a recognition fund based on Ukrainians, we decided to honour the fact that we had such a large population of Ukrainians in our town and contributing to our community by designing a sculpture with Shane Holland from Duleek”, said Katie McCormack, former chairperson of Athboy Tidy Towns.

The colours and symbols used in the design represent both the Irish and Ukrainian cultures and unite the two peoples together.

“It ended up being the union of the two diamonds coming together. It is a reference of the union of the soil and the lands and the union of Ireland and Ukraine,” said Katie.

“The colours that were used on the design were yellow, green and blue. The yellow and the green represents Ireland merging with Ukraine and because of the yellow and the blue in the Ukrainian flag. They also symbolise the sun, the sea, the water and the green being the land.

“The green and yellow also represents Meath and it is the local GAA club colours in the town”, she added.

The sculpture was also a way of giving back to the Ukrainian community for their help and involvement in Athboy Tidy Towns.

“They helped us plant trees and bulbs and gave a boost to the town.

“Especially in the beginning when the Ukrainians came to Athboy, the things that went really well for them was getting involved in the community. Especially when they didn’t have their English.

“The tidy towns projects were physical which meant you could paint something, or you could plant something, and you didn’t need to speak the same language. Some of them hadn’t secured a job or were staying in a hotel and just wanted to get out,” said Katie.

Oleksandra Sereda, a Ukrainian proudly living in Athboy said the sculpture made her feel welcomed and accepted.

“For me and my friends it means that Irish people accept us. They don’t want us to leave. They open their hearts and souls for us and we could do life here in Ireland better together.”

Oleksandra and the Ukrainian community were also involved in creating the design for the sculpture said Katie: “It was between the Athboy Tidy Towns and the Ukrainians of Athboy who discussed the colours. So, the blue in the Ukrainian flag is a very specific blue so there was a lot of back and forth about the colour blue especially.

“The Ukrainians were involved in the narrowing down of the actual design and the colours and seeing it progress in the workshop. Shane sent on maybe eight different designs before we narrowed it down.

“There were a few workshops and about five or six Ukrainians that came down to Shane’s workshop there in Duleek and we were able to see it as it was being designed and pick out the colours.

“It’s about preserving that piece of history as well. They really wanted to give back to the community.

“It’s a piece to show that they are welcome here as well.”

Options were sent on to the Ukrainian community where they got to decide what design and colours were chosen said Oleksandra: “Katie sent us some options on colours and what exactly would be on the sculpture so we chose our community, everybody voted on what they liked the most. The artist accepted our desires for the sculpture.

“It had a great reaction. It was so great that we could go over to the place where it was being made to speak with the artist.

He did great work, so we really appreciate that this artist made this sculpture.”

“There is something unusual and interesting it. It is interesting that we have similar cultures and similar traditions in some ways. It’s so interesting for us to get closer to your culture and to be involved,” she added.

The sculpture was unveiled September last at Shane Holland Design Workshops Culture Night event in Duleek where people were invited to see his latest design.

“There is a bit of interpretation people can take from it. I know from the launch night people had said they thought the shape of the diamond looked like a heart. It gave great insight into it. Its great other people can see something else from it as well”, said Katie.

The idea of the location for the sculpture was for it to be visible from the approach roads from Navan, Kells and Dunderry.

“A lot of people walk that route in the town, so we wanted to bring some creativity and also recognize it too,” said Katie.

“It transcends all the different levels from the town to the national level of integrating the Ukrainians to us here in Athboy,” she added.

Oleksandra is from Kharkiv but moved to Athboy nearly three years ago and has now made Athboy her home she said: “It was very strange but the people of Athboy were so welcoming, and they accepted us. They organised some English classes, involved us in different projects like gardening, planting fruit trees and bushes.

“I think Athboy has become really our town now, our new home and we really appreciate that we can do it better.

“For me I am working here now, and I try to be involved in different activities here and it is really nice and the people here are so friendly. I can say the same about Dublin. I am originally from a big city, but I like this pretty quiet but nice town.

“From myself, my family and our community we are really appreciative of Athboy and all the Irish people here. You are doing so much for us and you did and I hope we can become good friends and make this country better together.”