Easter celebrated by 2,000 Ukrainians in Donnycarney today

More than 2,000 Ukrainians turned out to celebrate Easter mass at a church in north Dublin on Sunday morning.

Fr Vasyl Kornitsky led the service in Our Lady of Consolation in Donnycarney, with the Ukrainian national anthem sung at the end of the sermon.

Those who attended, including many refugees recently arrived in Ireland, carried Easter baskets, sang hymns and lit candles during the three-hour ceremony.

Following the Julian calender, they celebrated Easter this Sunday.

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Fr Kornitsky, who has been living in Ireland for the last 10 years, said while the national anthem would not usually be sung at mass he felt it was important as many Ukrainians were feeling “very lonely today”.

"Easter is the most celebrated feast in Ukraine so today in particular people feel very lonely because of what is happening in Ukraine.

“But also you see the Easter baskets with the blessed foods and that food should be taken home and shared with the family at a family dinner, but there is no one to share it with,” he said.

“Not only that, some people don’t have access to a kitchen to prepare the food as they’re staying in hotels.

“People feel very homesick today and that’s why I did anything that I could just to boost their spirits and I think that’s what people needed.”

Serhiy Shalapay has been living in Ireland with his wife and children for the last 20 years. His niece Solomiy (21) fled Ukraine last month and is now staying with them at their home in Donabate, Dublin.

"My elder brother sent her over on March 5th, when the war started, she is the only daughter he has and he said 'I have to send her over to be safe'. He signed himself up to the Ukrainian army and he's starting to help in his area," Mr Shalapay said.

“My niece has been living with us for almost two months, she found it difficult at the start but at least she’s with us. She got a job and she’s working already and she’s studying at the same time.

“She’s worried about her dad but she’s in touch with him every day. The problem is I can’t help my parents, they live in western Ukraine and are not well enough to travel so they have to stay there. I’m in touch with them a few times a day.

“We’re delighted to see everyone here today, it’s a pity there is war but it is nice to see everyone come together today.”

Lidia Kruvorucjko has been living in Ireland for the last eight years and is in regular contact with her family in western Ukraine.

“My family are still in Ukraine and they don’t really want to go. It’s really hard, I’m so worried. For the last few weeks I’ve been listening to the news all the time and watching it, it’s just too much and I’ve been feeling sick,” she said.

“I can’t sleep, the pictures of back home. You wake up in the morning and think maybe it was a bad dream but no, you open your phone and it’s the same; bombs, bombs, bombs.”