The Cycle Of Life

Carraig Eden FRI22JULY22

ardly a day seems to go by these days without some good news emanating from the Tiglin gang in Greystones.

In the past week alone, a bunch of enterprising Ukrainian teenagers set up their own ice-cream hub and, after Ryan Tubridy’s shout-out was heard by Enable Ireland, the bould Radion finally got a new walker.

And this afternoon, four hardy young lads swung by as they prepared to take on the Paris2Nice cycle challenge for the Greystones centre.

Tiglin’s Aubrey McCarthy and Phil Thompons were keen to take the lads on a tour of Coolnagreina, where 97 Ukrainian refugees are getting on with everyday living whilst waiting for Putin’s pummelling in their home country to end.

It was after hearing all about Tiglin’s rapid offer of shelter to those fleeing the war in Ukraine from his sister Susan that David Kyne joined with Alex McKnight, Conor Walshe and John Holohan in signing up for the fundraising cycle. Their initial target is €12,000.

The cyclists were immediately impressed with how quickly Aubrey and the gang pivoted their rehabilitation programmes for those overcoming addiction to respond to the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

Grabbing a coffee from the new social enterprise café Rise At The Cove – where some of Susan’s students from Temple Carrig were working the ice cream hut – Aubrey took the foursome around the facilities for the town’s Ukranian guests.

“The initial response and enthusiasm from the community and Irish people has been brilliant,” said David, and as they toured Coolnagreina and heard the heartbreaking stories of those present, the lads realised that their time in Tiglin only marks the beginning of a long hard journey for these women and children.

On the tour, they were particularly impressed that amidst the traditional toys and games for kids were such tools as the specially-designed sand table to to help the children process their trauma.

For 14-year-old Eva Trachusk, being at Coolnagreina has given her hope. “Tiglin helped me and my family start life again from scratch,” she says. “Helped us to adapt much faster to life in Ireland, helped many people find work, and basically helped me and many others develop. I know that if I have problems I can always turn to Aubrey and Phil.

“I hope that the war will end soon,” she finishes. “That my city will remain in the territory of Ukraine. I want to develop myself in Ireland and develop in drawing and its important we work for ourselves and try and not worry every second that my hometown may not be there again.”

Taking place from September 9th to the 16th, you can donate to the lads Paris2Nice fundraising cycle right here.