‘Shock’ as much of Tuam’s Ukrainian community re-located

Parish Centre at capacity

UKRAINIAN families and individuals who had made the Corralea Court Hotel in Tuam their home for more than a year have been re-located.

Bags, cases and boxes of belongings were lined up in the foyer of the hotel in the Square from early on Monday morning. Two privately hired Bus Éireann coaches parked outside the hotel and transported the group to other locations in the county.

Four people from the group are remaining in Tuam as they have been relocated to the accommodation in the former Mercy Convent rented from Tuam Parish.

While some of the Ukrainians have been given new accommodation in Clifden, the other county locations aren’t known. Many of those who were moved were unhappy at having to do so as they had made friends in the Tuam area and had enjoyed living in the town; some also had jobs here.

However, there are still at least 50 Ukrainians living in Tuam, in part of the Mercy Convent building (Parish Centre) on Dublin Road which was refurbished and became available in April 2023. The Parish Centre is rented to a management company, Whiteport Ltd.

Spokesperson for the company Caroline Costello told The Tuam Herald that they only received information last week that they would be receiving four of the residents from the Corralea Court Hotel. She said the four people were happy to be staying in Tuam.

Caroline explained that most of the original residents are still at the Parish Centre but there have been a few changes as some who are working have moved out into their own accommodation.

“We’re very privileged to still have them,” remarked Caroline, who said they were lovely families.

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