UKRAINIAN refugees are living in a 15th century castle in Co Galway after its Armagh-born owner offered them a safe haven.
Barry Haughian, who lives in Madrid, travelled to Poland last week following a discussion with his wife over how they could offer refuge to some Ukrainian families.
"If we didn't do something there and then, the moment would have passed," he said.
Following a post on social media, Mr Haughian was contacted by several families.
Four families of women and children were transported from the Polish-Ukrainian border and are now living in Ballindooley Castle, near Galway city centre.
Mr Haughian bought the restored Norman castle around five years ago.
"To travel from Poland with an Irishman they've never met before takes some leap of faith. But it shows how desperate the people are over there and how much help they need," he told RTÉ.
The children have now started at local schools.
One of the group, Maria Nazarchuk (20), was studying financial accountancy before the Russian invasion.
She is now helping to translate the Russian spoken by the nine-strong group.
She said most of the group are related. They include her mother, sister-in-law and her sister-in-law's mother.
Mr Haughian said the families are settling into life in the castle
"We were out in Salthill, walking along the prom on Sunday and that's when Maria said to me: 'Now I feel safe. Now, I'm relaxed. Now, this is good. All the trust is there'," he said.
Another of the women living in the castle, Maria Kozlovska, said the war had been hugely traumatic.
"Children cry, they didn't know where we can sleep, where we can [get] food. Children are very tired," she said.
