Tag Archives: ukraine

THE people of Clare are being urged to don their county colours in solidarity with the people of Ukraine this Wednesday. A march for Ukraine will be held at 6pm on March 2 at the Fair Green, Tim Smythe Park in Ennis. The event has been organised by concerned Irish and Polish people living locally who wanted to show their support for the people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion. A spokesperson for the organisers told us that they are encouraging people to come along with their Clare county flags and colours as the saffron and blue is similar to the Ukraine yellow and blue flag. “This event has been organised as an opportunity for us as a community to share our solidarity and our grief with the people of Ukraine, and to call for further action to be taken to end what is happening. “People can bring a candle, and because the colours of the Ukrainian flag …

DOCTOR Lena Madden woke up on Thursday morning to text messages offering condolences after the invasion of her home country by Russia. An Ennis-based academic, Lena has lived in Ireland for 20 years and in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine she is very concerned about the prospect of thousands of deaths. “The thing that people don’t talk about is loss. The biggest thing is loss of human life. How many people will die? How many children will die? The soldiers are someone’s children too.” Dr Madden’s father and step-mother were already here visiting when hostilities started, but her mother is living in the east of Ukraine. “I’m from Donetsk, the place where the war is happening currently and where it started in 2014. I moved to Ireland in 2002, that’s 20 years ago. I didn’t live through the war, but my Mum says she has lived through war already. She’s got an approach that she …

AS tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, an East Clare tour operator planning a “dating tour” to Kiev has said he is not unduly concerned, writes Fiona McGarry. Scariff’s James Treacy told The Champion that he is keeping a watch on the situation ahead of the planned tour and will stick to whatever advice is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mr Treacy, who previously insisted that there will be no risk to the safety of the 50 men he aims to bring to Ukraine, said he doesn’t see the current crisis along the Ukrainian border as a particular cause for alarm. “Like all other destinations where there has been war, we cannot travel there unless the Department of Foreign Affairs allow us to travel,” he said. The experienced tour operator, who also runs pilgrimages to religious sites around the world, said he has already encountered situations where conflict has necessitated a change of plan. “I remember …

AN EAST Clare man’s efforts to find long-term love for up to 30 single men, by leading a dating tour to Ukraine, are to be the subject of a new video documentary. Scariff’s James Treacy, a professional photographer and pilgrimage organiser, made national news when he announced his plans last month. The trip to Ukraine, slated for next year, will be documented in a film directed by Malcolm Willis of Icy Peaks Productions, based in County Kerry. Some advance scenes for a trailer were shot at Kilmallock Mart last week, where Mr Treacy often works photographing livestock. “The documentary is starting next Monday, we are only filming now but this is going to take a year to put it together,” Mr Treacy said. “We are planning to go onto the Late Late Show on Valentine’s Day and we are applying for the Graham Norton Show.” In June, Mr Treacy announced that he has teamed up with an American tour operator, …

A SCARIFF man, who runs pilgrimages to the Holy Land and other religious sites, is to diversify by offering what he describes as “dating tours” to the Ukraine. James Treacy has teamed up with an American tour operator, A Foreign Affair, which runs so-called “singles introduction tours” to Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. The professional photographer is hoping to bring 30 men to Kiev next year and told The Champion he has already had interest from Clare men looking for wives. Mr Treacy insisted everyone involved is genuinely looking for long-term love and that there is no question of sex tourism. “The men are vetted by me,” he outlined. “Some of them have never had a girlfriend. They are genuinely looking for wives. This is not a sex tour. The cost of the tour is too high for anyone who isn’t looking for a serious relationship.” As to the issue of potential exploitation, Mr Treacy said the women involved …

Kilfenora welterweight Kayleigh McCormack, a recent silver medalist in the Ladies Elite National Boxing Championships, makes a second international appearance against Ukraine on Saturday night. McCormack, who is a second year student in Thurles IT, boxed against Sweden on Saturday week last and although she lost out on points to Agnes Alexiusson, she was outstanding in the final round of a torrid four-round battle. Kayleigh feels the experience garnered against the Swede will bolster her chances against Nila Lupska, the reigning Ukranian welterweight champion. Ennis club coach, Sean Carrig, was a judge in the 2013 European Championships in Budapest and remembers the Ukranian boxing there. He was impressed with her ringcraft and skill but he feels the power-punching Kilfenora girl will push Lupska all the way. The Ukranian team will box in Edenderry and in the National Stadium on this tour, which they are using as a warm-up for the upcoming world championships to be held in Kazakstan in September. …

The proposed EU Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine will be on the agenda of the Dáil Select Committee of Foreign Affairs and Trade this afternoon (Wednesday). Committee chairman, Deputy Pat Breen will preside and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan, who has tabled motions seeking the approval of the Dáil for each of the agreements, will be in attendance The Association Agreements offered to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine within the framework aim to promote political association and economic integration between the three countries and the EU, based on common values. A further aim is to support and enhance cooperation in the areas of justice, freedom and security with the aim of reinforcing the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms including in the area of mobility and people-to-people contacts. Deputy Breen said, “ The committee has an important role to play in examining what the EU hope will be a new …

Over 4,500 Team Hope Christmas shoeboxes, filled with gifts for needy children in Ukraine, will be leaving Ennis this evening (Tuesday). Over the past three weeks schools, businesses, factories and individuals throughout the county have put together the shoeboxes which were packaged at Elevation Business Park, Clonroad, Ennis. “We have packed all these boxes into cartons to be loaded onto a lorry this evening. There will be 489 cartons to put onto the lorry, which are filled with 4,561 shoeboxes to get to needy children in Ukraine before Christmas,” said Margaret Angland, Clare coordinator for Team Hope.