A lovely event took place in Stradbally Library last night as members of the community came together for a special screening.
‘From War to Welcome in The Little Town, Stradbally’ is a short film that documented Stradbally’s response to the war in Ukraine.
In 2023, hundreds of people displaced from Ukraine following the Russian invasion arrived in Stradbally.
They initially lived in tented accommodation on the grounds of Electric Picnic before more permanent structures were built in 2024.
In the initial weeks after their arrival, conditions on the site were poor with bad weather leading to flooding in parts of the site and very damp conditions.
But people in Stradbally and the wider community came together to help their new residents and their efforts have been documented in the film.
The event was attended by many of the incredible volunteers who supported efforts on the ground at Stradbally Hall.
Also present were several local business owners and community members, including Dick Dunne, Ann Simpson, and representatives from St Vincent de Paul – Mary McEvoy and Sinéad Moore.
Local Councillor Vivienne Phelan, Reverend Alec Purser, Fr Sean Kelly and Fr David Vard, all of whom were exceptionally generous during the time the Ukrainian families were on site, were also present.
There were also performances from Malva Ukrainian Choir and Bells Ukrainian Children’s Choir.
The Laois Integration Network put the film together and you can check it out below.
You can also see some great pictures courtesy of Kellie Kearney:
