Celebrating Ukrainian and Irish cultures in Kilkenny

Ukrainian and Irish communities gathered in The Parade Tower of Kilkenny on Friday  to celebrate a year of integration into Ireland through the youth programmes with Ossory Youth.

 Eighty members of the Ukrainian and Irish communities came together to celebrate their communities through connection with Ossory Youth. The OPW with Anne Teehan and Aisling Doyle  offered The Parade Tower as a magical setting for the evening.

Young people and their families from all over Kilkenny were in attendance. The evening included delicious food from The Design Centre, followed by trad music from a local band organised by Mick Greene, all while watching photos of activities throughout the year on the big screen.

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Ossory Youth is the regional youth service based in Kilkenny offering support and a variety of programmes for young people and their families. They have centres in Kilkenny City, Callan, Goresbridge,  Graignamanagh and local youth volunteer-led youth clubs around Kilkenny. 

As part of their work, Ossory Youth developed an integration summer project to support Ukrainian young people who had relocated to Kilkenny. 

The project was  funded by KCETB and CYPSC and was an opportunity to introduce the Ukrainian young people  to their new communities throughout Kilkenny and show them what facilities and supports  are available to them. 

This included badminton, swimming, and surfing, and outdoor sports with support of wonderful resources in Kilkenny - St Kieran’s College sports hall, The Watershed, and Castlecomer Discovery Park.

Local volunteer-led youth groups, in association with Ossory Youth, were also in attendance including leaders and young people from the  Ballyragget Youth Club who joined in the celebrations. 

According to the organisers, the event was a fantastic success.

“It  was a gorgeous night of community and coming together at Christmas,” said Lauren Lennon of Ossory Youth. Our work continues with local youth groups and the Ukrainian young people in the New Year.”

If you would like to get in touch for more information about getting involved with Ossory Youth or joining the Ukrainian Youth Group, you can contact on jpurcell@ossoryyouth.com or call in to the centre in Desert Hall, Lower New Street, Kilkenny, R95 P5HC