A refugee from Ukraine arrived in Ireland three-and-a-half years ago and prioritized survival over tourism. Ireland provided safety and immediate practical support during the initial days and weeks. Locals offered warm, generous help without hesitation, creating a tangible sense of welcome that went beyond performative hospitality. The welcome appeared as a quiet, authentic embrace grounded in empathy and an understanding of displacement, struggle and dignity. Practical assistance and human kindness eased the transition and preserved dignity. The country's character is portrayed as fiercely shaped by its people, conveying both deep communal care and resolute independence.
Ireland feels so distinctly itself, so fiercely shaped by its people, that it seems impossible to imagine it as anything but independent
When I first arrived in Ireland three-and-a-half years ago, I was not a tourist. I was not looking for sightseeing routes, hidden gems or travel guides. I was running from war in Ukraine. In those first days and weeks, survival was the only priority.
Ireland gave me that safety. From the beginning, I felt its warmth: people who were kind extended help without hesitation. It was not the glossy welcome of a brochure, but the quiet and real embrace of a country that knows something about displacement, struggle and holding on to dignity.
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