Fun in the sun for Chernobyl orphans
IMAGINE if you had never felt sand between your toes, or waves lapping around your feet?
It’s difficult to picture, but for 35 very special visitors to the sun-kissed shores of Clogherhead beach, last Wednesday was the first time they experienced these sensations which many of us take for granted.
The group had travelled from an orphanage in Chernobyl, and the coastal Louth community opened their hearts to the young men and women to give them a day to remember.
“It was the most fabulous day from start to finish and I am still walking on air just thinking about it,” says local organiser Isobel Sanroma, who raised funds for the trip through her annual sponsored swim.
“The children had a great time, and some of them had never been to a beach, or even in the water, and when they were lifted into the sea, it was unbelievable. There were grown men crying, and I feel so blessed to be part of it.”
The weather was spectacular for the day, and while temperatures sizzled, so did a lot of sausages, as three ‘chefs’ kept burgers flipping all day to feed the masses.
“The local people were wonderful, and we had a woman donate all the meat from Gareth’s Butchers Clogherhead, and Pádraig Rath, Brian O’Sheil, & coxswain Tomás Whelehan from the RNLI station manned the barbeque all day,” adds Isobel.
“David Reddy from the Celtic Adventures centre provided five workers who stayed with the children all day, and they took part in activities like archery, mini-golf and watersports.
To see them smiling so much was incredible, and they have made happy memories which will see them through the dark times when they return to the orphanage.”
Gerry Kelly from the RNLI at Clogherhead said it was a magical and memorable day for all.
“We are grateful to Isobel Sanroma for the privilege of the visit on this beautiful sunny day,” he said on behalf of the volunteers.
“Seeing the smiles of joy on our visitors’ faces was uplifting and inspirational for us all. We wish them well for the remainder of their stay in Ireland.”
The children were part of a group of 145 special needs children from orphanages and homes in the Chernobyl affected regions of Belarus, who visited Ireland as part of a long standing Irish funded programme to help combat the long-term effects of nuclear radiation on their lives.
The children, who form part of the third generation of Chernobyl victims, were met by host families from ten counties with whom they will spend Rest and Recreation breaks over a fourweek period.
The airlift was organised by Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International which has brought more than 25,500 children and young adults to Ireland since 1991.
For some it was their first time to come to Ireland; others were re-united with families which have welcomed them for many years.
Adi Roche praised Isobel Sanroma, the Drogheda representative of the Chernobyl charity as a ‘friend of the Children of Chernobyl’ with ‘ tenacity, courage and bravery.’
Clogherhead RNLI lifeboat station mechanic Padraig Rath along with other RNLI volunteers have for many years organised the St. Stephens Day swim at Clogherhead beach to raise funds for a building project to rehouse children living in institutions.
The charity has funded many buildings in Belarus known as Houses of Hope and money raised at the annual Clogherhead swim has funded one of the houses.