Cork group's documentary about Ukrainian refugee integration gets vital funding

Cork’s Ballyhoura Development CLG has been awarded funding to create a documentary showcasing the European Union’s (EU) support of Ukrainian refugee integration across Ireland.

The funding was awarded under the Department of Foreign Affairs’s 2025 Communicating Europe Initiative. This year’s project builds on Ireland’s commitment to European solidarity, inclusion, and community resilience.

The documentary, entitled The EU as a Catalyst for Change: Ballyhoura Development’s Support for the Ukrainian Community, showcases how EU-supported programmes, such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), empower local organisations to respond to community needs.

Ballyhoura Development collaborated with filmmaker Brian O’Keeffe, and the film interviews newly-arrived Ukrainians, long-standing local residents, volunteers, Ballyhoura Development staff, and partner organisations.

Filmed across Charleville, Kilmallock, Bruff, and surrounding communities, the documentary reflects the realities of people navigating displacement, building new connections, learning English, launching businesses, volunteering, and finding a sense of belonging in rural Ireland.

One of the entrepreneurs featured in the film, Veronika (Nika) Fender, who is the CEO of Pink Rabbit Marketing, said the documentary is “a reminder that supporting one another makes us stronger than any circumstances”.

The project highlights the collaborative efforts of groups such as Tidy Towns committees, family Resource centres, libraries, volunteer centres, Fáilte Isteach, and the Irish Red Cross.

A series of public screenings will take place across North East Cork and East Limerick, providing community members with an opportunity to engage with the film, reflect on EU support in their region, and discuss the future of integration in rural Ireland.

The documentary, along with a collection of short video stories, will also be shared through Ballyhoura Development’s digital channels.