Summerhill put its arms around ‘families forced to flee their war’

The co founder of a support group for Ukrainian refugees in Summerhill says the community has put their arms around the families forced to flee their war torn country.

Chairperson Emer Irwin is among a number of people fronting Summerhill Ukrainian Support Committee, a group formed to offer help to refugees who have arrived to Summerhill and surrounding areas in recent months with little more than the clothes on their back.

Local people have been doing Trojan work to help out in practical ways from organising weekly English classes, to help with CVs, as well as helping them source accommodation and gathering donations of basic essentials.

The Summerhill Ukrainian Support Committee was established in March 2022 to support Summerhill and the surrounding areas in welcoming Ukrainian refugees to the community. It was set up by a group of passionate community members who were horrified by the atrocities they were seeing on their screens every day and felt they needed to take action, fast.

Emer admits she couldn't stand back and do nothing when she saw the hell of war unfold before the world's eyes and decided to take action with help from the locality.

"I come from a social care background and I would have volunteered for different organisations over the years. I found it very distressing watching the footage of people suffering everyday on the news, I just knew I had to do something.

"People here in Summerhill, Trim and surrounding areas have really embraced the Ukrainian people, many of whom have come from Russian-occupied areas and experienced a great deal of trauma. Some have arrived with their few belongings carried in plastic bags.

"Thanks to people's generosity, we have been able to make their transition here easier. We run English classes both intensely and online, we help with accommodation where we can and provide driving lessons.

"Even though a lot of people have licences, they drive on the other side of the road and they drive automatic cars so they need some help adjusting.

"We had a car donated to help a young woman drive to work and also to help with transport for some of the other Ukrainian families so we do whatever we can basically.

"The one thing that I found about the Ukrainian people is their absolute determination no matter what is thrown at them. They can't thank us enough for what we do but they are so resilient. "

A recent Christmas gathering saw Ukrainian people and volunteers alike come together to experience Ukrainian culture and thank locals for their help.