Kind-hearted businessman makes donation in honour of Limerick-based refugees

CHRISTMAS has come early for one local charity, thanks to a heartwarming gesture from Owen O'Sullivan and refugees based in a Limerick village.

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia war, Tara House in Clarina has been home to refugees from Ukraine.

In that time, local businessman Owen O'Sullivan has worked alongside some of the village's newest residents.

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Now, he has made a donation to Dooradoyle-based charity St Gabriel's, on behalf of the refugees in Tara House.

St Gabriel's exists to support children with disabilities and their families, providing clinical therapies, education, hydrotherapy, orthotics and respite care.

Its staff picked up a cheque for €10,000 from Mr O'Sullivan.

Speaking about the gift, he said: "This Christmas, I’m making this donation in honour of the Ukrainian communities I’ve had the privilege to work with. They know the weight of difficult times, yet they show remarkable resilience and solidarity. The Ukranian community has experienced incredible kindness and support since arriving here in Clarina. This Christmas, we wanted to give something back to the community that welcomed people in need with open arms.”

Treasa McAuliffe, the chief executive of St Gabriel’s added: "We are sincerely grateful for this generous Christmas donation. Support like this strengthens our ability to help children and families who are facing real challenges. It’s heartening to see communities come together in such a meaningful way, and we deeply appreciate everyone whose kindness makes our work at St. Gabriel’s possible."