For Irina, the journey from Ukraine to rural Ireland has been one of adjustment and resilience. Now living in Shinrone, she speaks candidly about the challenges of starting over in a new country; but even more so about the kindness and opportunity she has found along the way.

Irina arrived in Ireland following what she describes as a sudden decision. Encouraged by a close friend who had moved a year earlier, she made the leap. “It was a sudden decision. I was not expecting,” she explains, recalling how her friend guided her through the process of gathering documents and preparing for the move. Despite the uncertainty, she approached the transition with confidence, adding, “I just gathered and stopped all my work in Ukraine and came here… without any fears that it will be hard here.”

Today, Irina is settled in Shinrone with her two sons, aged 13 and 10. While her family is “not very big,” she speaks warmly about the life they are building together. “… we settled already,” she says, suggesting a sense of stability that has followed an initially uncertain transition.

A key part of that stability has come through her work in the local school, where she is currently employed in food services. However, she is undertaking training to become a special needs assistant (SNA), with the hope of supporting children in an educational setting. Her long-term goal is to build a meaningful career in education, driven by a clear passion: “I like children, you know.”

While she acknowledges Ukraine as her homeland, she speaks openly about how at home she feels in her new environment. “I feel really like at home,” she says. “I met here good, only good Irish people… that help a lot such people as we are that came from another countries.”

Her experience, she believes, reflects a broader culture of acceptance. “Each nation here is accepted, as an equal person,” she says, noting that this openness extends beyond any one group or nationality. For Irina, this inclusivity has created a sense of safety and reassurance: “I feel here safe and there is no worries about that you are from different nation.”

Much of this support has come at a local level. She speaks with gratitude about her neighbours, who offered practical help and friendship from the outset. These relationships have been instrumental in helping her settle and feel part of the community.

One of the most meaningful for Irina has been learning to drive; something she had long hoped to achieve. “My dream come true here,” she says. With the help of a local resident who volunteered to teach her, she is now preparing for her driving test. “He just says, I will teach… and now I can drive,” she adds.

Beyond personal milestones, Irina has been pleasantly surprised by the resources and opportunities available in a small rural village. “This village has a lot of things to do,” she explains, listing local amenities and the ease with which people can become involved in community life. For her, Shinrone offers both convenience and connection: “Everything is close, everything that you need for your life.”

Her children’s experience, however, has been more complex. While her younger son has adapted easily, her older child has found the transition more challenging. “For them it’s another story,” she says, pointing to language barriers and the difficulties of adjusting as a teenager.

Irina is keenly aware of the emotional and social hurdles her children face and actively encourages them to engage with their new environment. “You just need to also involve yourself,” she recalls telling her son. While progress takes time, she remains supportive and optimistic, acknowledging that adaptation is a gradual process.

Despite these challenges, she has embraced the rhythms of life in Ireland, even finding comfort in its famously changeable weather. “Here in Ireland it’s a middle weather… there is no such big jumps,” she notes, describing it as “good” in its consistency.

“A good day is sunshine, a good cup of coffee,” she says, before adding that it is also about connection and purpose; going to work, meeting people she likes, and following through on her plans. Underpinning it all is a sense of optimism: “Just thinking that everything will be okay.”

Central to her experience has been the welcoming atmosphere of the school where she works. She describes a culture of openness among staff, where small gestures such as sharing a cup of tea, helps foster inclusion. “All the time… would you like to go for a chat? Yes, I said, okay, with pleasure,” she recalls. These moments, though simple, have played a significant role in helping her integrate.

Irina’s story is one of gratitude. She speaks openly about her appreciation for the support she has received and the life she is building in Ireland.

Looking to the future, she is clear about her intentions. “I like this country. I’m planning to settle here for a long time.”

Her journey, though shaped by upheaval, has led her to a place she now calls home. Through determination, community support and a willingness to embrace change, Irina has begun to carve out a new chapter; one defined not by displacement, but by belonging.