Ukrainians get strength from Blackpool meet-up: 'My heart was always more in Cork than Dublin'

At 74-years old, Velerii Kombulatov will go to any lengths to keep loneliness at bay, even if it means travelling more than six hours in one day for a cup of coffee and chat.

For most men his age, this might sound like a nightmare, but the asylum seeker never once complained after being relocated from his beloved Cork to temporary accommodation locations in Dublin and Wexford. 

Instead, he focused his energy on his weekly 'Babusi-Didusi Razem' sessions which he continued to attend in Blackpool. Every week saw him cover impressive ground, travelling by tram, train and eventually on foot to meet with friends his own age. 

Babusi-Didusi Razem, which translates as Grandma-Grandpa Together, helps keep older Ukrainian people in Ireland socially connected through activities such as art and bingo. 

The organisation was recently shortlisted for the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards.

[/url]Now in its 10th year, the initiative was created to recognise work undertaken by organisations, community groups, businesses, local authorities, and individuals across Ireland making the country a better place to grow older.

Velerii Kombulatov joined the group shortly after fleeing war in Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine. He arrived in Ireland in June of 2022 and desperately wanted to connect with people his own age. 

Luckily, the Babusi-Didusi Razem group had only recently opened its doors to male members when the father-of-one signed up.

After separating from his wife before the war, Valerii was determined not to become isolated. With his only son residing in Poland, this was becoming increasingly difficult.

Valerii found happiness after joining the group, describing its members as his “Irish family”.

“I found my family here and loved coming to meet with everyone in the group each week,” he told The Echo.

When Velerii was forced to relocate to Dublin on August 26 2022, he was understandably upset, but emphasised that he didn’t want to dwell on his pain.

“At the beginning I had no choice. I was over 70 and sharing a room with a man who was 30. I’m grateful for what I have, and I realise that I have to be flexible. It was a positive that I had some company. 

"In the apartment I was staying in, there were two rooms. There were four people in total which meant that all of us had to share a bedroom. I’m lucky that I can make friends wherever I go. One of the people living with us had a relative with a car, who took us to visit so many beautiful places in Ireland.” 

Velerii, however, still craved the company of friends his own age which influenced his decision to travel to Cork each week to meet with fellow members of Babusi-Didusi Razem.

“I was very happy when they told me I could come back. I packed my belongings and was here straight away. I celebrated with the group with whiskey and sandwiches. My heart was always more in Cork than Dublin.” 

After accommodation stints in Dublin and Wexford, he was finally able to return to Cork to live, in January 2025.

Ukrainian support worker with BDR, Svetlana Zakharova, said she lobbied on his behalf to make the relocation possible.

“Velerii was on his way to Cork the day after he got the good news,” she told The Echo.

“People like him help us realise just how important these groups are for people in their golden years. When we first started this group in 2022 it was just called Babusi. 

"One of the grandmas said she had a grandpa who was lonely at home. She asked if she could bring her husband along with her. That was when we realised what an issue loneliness is for men, as well as women.” 

Much of the group’s activities centre around helping others.

“I proposed that our groups put together shoeboxes filled with items to suit the needs of soldiers ahead of Ukrainian Independence Day (today, August 24). 

"They include items like wet wipes, socks and foot spray. I also decided to make boxes for female soldiers with products that include Tampax, hand cream and underwear because these are things that women really need.” 

Meanwhile, Tetiana Vlasenko from Volchansk, an active frontline city in Ukraine devastated by war, described why Babusi-Didusi Razem came as such a positive distraction.

“Before the war I was a rich woman,” the 70-year-old said. “I had a house with three floors, a swimming pool, as well as five cars, that were all destroyed by Russian rockets. I had a photo of how it looks now, but I deleted it because my heart broke every time I looked at it. 

She added: "My building company had an office with four floors but this was also destroyed. There were 11 rooms and all my belongings, including photographs and gold, are now all gone. 

"My daughter’s husband is a soldier so she is back in Ukraine with him. Even though I’m proud, I worry about them all the time."

She says she is so thankful for the safety Ireland has afforded her today. "I am so grateful to the people of Ireland."

Lorysa Komosova, who also hails from Volchansk, said that the group helps take her mind off the trauma of escaping war.

“I want to be at home and have things the way they were before. I feel very down for my city but this group shows the unity of the Ukrainian people here. I make friendships every Friday. When I visit the group, it settles my heart.” 

Lorysa still finds it difficult to speak about the day she fled Ukraine in May, 2022.

“They were shooting at cars in all the other directions, so my only route left was via the Russian border. They were trying to find the people with the Russian relatives. Otherwise they are not allowed to leave. I had to organise for the people of my friends to answer the phone and say I was coming to them in Russia. 

"It was the only way I could cross the border. I have never really spoken about that day until now. If I do, I start crying. The people of Cork are very friendly and they give me a lot of support.” 

The National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards will take place on October 8 at The Strand Hotel in Limerick, hosted by Limerick City and County Council.

Catherine McGuigan of Age Friendly Ireland has applauded the work of the Babusi-Didusi Razem team.

"As we celebrate ten years of the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards, projects like Babusi-Didusi Razem remind us why these awards matter. They shine a spotlight on people who quietly create extraordinary change in their communities, often using simple ideas that create real impact. 

"This initiative demonstrates the power of local leadership and partnership to tackle loneliness, promote inclusion and help older people thrive. By recognising projects like this, we hope to encourage similar Age Friendly initiatives in communities right across Ireland."

She added that being 'age friendly' isn’t just about offering practical support to older people, it's about showing compassion for those who need it and helping them engage with their communities.

"Babusi-Didusi Razem is the perfect example of an initiative that has shown the wider community that no matter what stage you are at in life, you can rebuild confidence, maintain independence and develop meaningful social connections. This is exactly the kind of locally led innovation that deserves to be recognised, celebrated, and shared with communities across Ireland. "