A group of around 40 Ukrainian refugees living with host families in Ardee are preparing to take part in their first every St Patrick’s Day Parade with a message of thanks for the Irish people and one of hope for the country of their birth.
Katerina Karpenko, known simply as ‘Kate’ in her new home town of Ardee, wanted to gather her community together and thank the town that had welcomed them with open arms, two years ago, as Russia invaded their homeland.
Kate explains: “It was not only my idea but the idea of our community and our friends in Drumcar wanted to join us too. So, I applied to the committee to participate in the parade and they said yes. “Our main idea is to show our appreciation and gratitude for the Irish people that have welcomed us here.”
Kate says that in her two years in the country, her ties with Ireland have grown and she sees that happening across her community as integration increases, people find work and start to raise families here.
“All of my friends are now working here and we start to be more independent and some are starting to put down roots here, including myself. I feel comfortable here and there are a lot of possibilities for me here.”
Kate fled Ukraine in May 2022 in a car stuffed with six people and several pets. She drove 1,000km and witnessed some of the horrors of war on that traumatic journey to safety.
Friends in Killarney led her to Ireland where she was linked to a network of host families and ultimately, she settled in Ardee.
With a background in sociology and politics back in Ukraine, Kate has become an active member of the local Labour Party and has become something of an informal social worker for the broader Eastern European community in Ardee and beyond.
She says that the Ukrainian community’s participation in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade is not just about saying thanks to Ireland, it is also about keeping the war in Ukraine and the plight of her people at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
“Our float will have an angel with big wings in the Ukraine and Irish colours. The angel is to represent our hope for the protection of our people,” she explains.
Kate now works in the NCBI shop in Ardee which is something of a community hub for the town and has proven a great place to get to know the local community.
The Ukrainian woman is looking forward to a fun day and confesses that two years ago, St Patrick’s Day was not a concept she was over-familiar with. That has changed a lot in the last two years and her relationship with our Patron Saint is on pretty solid ground these days, considering the Nordic Walking enthusiast has now climbed Croagh Patrick, twice.
If you are along the viewing route for the Ardee parade, Kate has promised a Ukrainian treat for you with not only the colour of their float but also some tasty treats for the crowd in the form of some traditional bread from the homeland.
