Dublin City Council hosts the Ukraine Peace Relay Children’s Art Exhibition at Ballyfermot Library

Dublin City Council is delighted to be hosting the Ukraine Peace Relay Children’s Art Exhibition in Ballyfermot Library, this is a first for Dublin and a first for Ireland. The exhibition was launched by Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy with special guests Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland, Her Excellency Gerasko Larysa and Dublin City Librarian, Mairead Owens.

Ballyfermot Youth Service through their contacts in the Erasmus+ programme were made aware of this peace relay and with the support of Dublin City Council brought this exhibition to Dublin, funded through the Ukrainian fund for the Ballyfermot Cherry Orchard area. 

The Ukraine Peace Relay Children’s Art Exhibition is a touring exhibition of artworks created by kids all over the world to spread love and hope for children in war-torn Ukraine has arrived in Dublin. The theme of this exhibition is Peace Relay and it was the idea of Lviv Children’s Gallery to give children the chance to express their artistic talent and to remind the world that children are at the front of this terrible war. Friends of Ukrainian children in different countries of the world quickly picked up this relay and it has been shown in over 20 countries. 

Gerry Mc McCarthy, Manager Ballyfermot Youth Service speaking at the launch said, “I know that we have a number of families and children from Ukraine staying in the area and this exhibition is a way for us to show our concern for them and to express our hope that the war will come to a just end. It is also a chance for us to show our true humanity by welcoming them into our community, cities and towns. “ 

The exhibition displays the work by the children depicting their Guardian Angels and Dream City capture the imagination of children even though they are caught in a war zone. The vibrant colours displayed are evidence of life and hope and all the artists are children living in the various cities of Ukraine. City names we now all know for the wrong reasons. Lviv, Kiev, Maurpol, Kherson, Kharkiv. They have suffered terrible violence at the hands of aggressors and no one has been spared. The paintings capture the imagination of children, dreaming of a world without war. 

The Ukraine Peace Relay Children’s Art Exhibition will run at Ballyfermot Library until the 31st March 2023. 

***Images from the launch will be circulated to picture desks by Conor McCabe Photography*** 

ENDS