Not long after the war started, Riabova stepped up to a more senior position. As the winter went on, Riabova found the situation was taking a great toll on her mental health. I’m still kind of a young person and I want to live my life in the fullest way possible. That was probably the moment that we realised okay, we don’t know English, not the way it’s spoken in Ireland.”In September 2023, Riabova discovered the Accommodation Recognition Programme which pays Irish people to house refugees. We would like to hear from people who have moved to Ireland in the past 10 years.

Source: The Irish Times December 16, 2025 15:27 UTC