Eight children spend festive season in Omeath

December 1996

ALTHOUGH thousands of miles from home, eight children from Chernobyl have a Christmas to remember in Omeath.

The eight, six girls and two boys, all aged 10, arrived on 22 November, and will remain until 24 January.

Their holiday in Ireland is organised by the Newry-based Chernobyl Children Appeal, which, over the last two years, has brought 250 youngsters to the north-east.

However, this is a new departure as director Gary Stokes explains.

‘Before, we had the children placed with families for a couple of weeks, but this is the first time a group has stayed for so long.’

They are all based at Seafield House in Omeath, and because of the different illnesses the kids are suffering from, a doctor accompanies the boys and girls, with an interpreter always close at hand.

‘Most of the children are suffering from chronic kidney disease, with other ailments such as swollen glands,’ explains Nicola O’Leary, one of the organisers.

‘One little boy was very depressed when we collected him from Shannon airport, and was sick the whole way up, but now he’s running about the house and laughing the whole time.’

The visitors clearly benefit from their time in the seaside village, and there is a tremendous response from local people who give up their time voluntarily to make the stay as enjoyable as possible.

A packed programme of events is lined up, including the arrival by helicopter of Santa Claus.

‘When the time comes, we won’t want to let them go back home,’ adds Nicola.