'WE HAVE A SPECIAL AFFECTION FOR IRISH'

A BANNER held aloft in the away end in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night read, 'Thank you Éire', in recognition of the welcome given to tens of thousands of Ukrainians who arrived here in the wake of the Russian invasion.

- BY MARK MCCADDEN

And back at home, journalist Iryna Koziupa explains just how strong a connection there is between her fellow countrymen and women, and this island on the other side of Europe.

From James Joyce to Irish dancing to the recent Netflix series, House of Guinness, Irish culture has left a big footprint on the Ukrainian people.

Not to mention the speed with which doors were opened to people fleeing the brutal war.

"When I was first time in Dublin, it was maybe the first year of war, and I spent two days here," she says.

"I was so pleased and so happy with how people treat me here. It was really amazing.