The refugee camp at the Electric Picnic site in Stradbally will close next week.

In September, the Government announced it was unable to provide refugees arriving in Ireland with appropriate accommodation and would house them in tents instead. 

The decision was controversial - not least among some locals in the County Laois town - but the refugees have all since been found alternative housing.   

Reporter Josh Crosbie visited the camp for Newstalk Breakfast and spoke to some of those who have been living and working there over the last six weeks.

“It was a lovely place,” Maya said. 

“In Ukraine, we went to the camp and we spent a lot of time there. 

“Now, it’s the same; we just came to the camp and it’s very comfortable. 

“Lovely people and they helped us with everything that they need, I’m very happy that I came here because I met my [host] family.” 

'It’s just been lovely'

Her host, Olive, said she got the idea from her mother-in-law who had been volunteering locally with the Ukrainians. 

“I said to my husband, ‘We’ve no time [to help] because we’re busy, so will we open up our house?’” she said. 

“He said, ‘If you want.’

“We met the girls on a Saturday and they moved in on a Monday and it’s just been lovely. 

“I have no sisters, it’s all brothers, this is like getting two sisters.” 

Volunteering

During the month-and-a-half of its existence, Tent City has been home to some 750 refugees and local volunteers have been active in trying to make them feel welcome.

“I heard they wanted volunteers to help with an English conversation class,” St Vincent de Paul volunteer Michelle Delaney said. 

“Over here… we have our English lessons, also on the left you’ll see all the children’s toys where children play. 

“Behind here are the tents where everyone sleeps at nighttime.

“On the right then, further down, you’ll see the dining hall.” 

'Not ideal'

She described tented accommodation as “not ideal” but said the Ukrainians seemed content enough with it. 

“We try to make them feel as welcome and as comfortable as possible but going forward, I’d like to see people with proper roofs over their heads,” she said. 

“They did [try and make the best] of the situation they were given. 

“The people were happy to be here because they came from war torn countries and they do call it Tent City.” 

'It’s served a purpose'

Jill Robinson of Helping Irish Hosts, which matches Ukrainians with host families, had a similar, measured assessment of the use of tented accommodation.

“It was a solution for a problem that we had, so we had to think outside the box but the way that this tented community has been run has been really inspiring and it’s been amazing,” she said. 

“For the six or seven weeks that it’s been here, it’s served a purpose.”

Main image: Stradbally tents. Picture by: Josh Crosbie.