Ukraine flag to be hoisted at Civic Centre

The blue and yellow national flag of Ukraine is to fly alongside the tricolour at Athlone Civic Centre following last week’s invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

The Ukranian flag was brought into the council chamber at the March meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District by Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, who compared the Russian President, Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler and said the world faces “a frightening prospect” as a result of his actions in invading Ukraine.

“The Taoiseach rightly described the invasion as an act of thuggery, it is the work of a bully, and Vladimir Putin has been compared, quite correctly, to Adolf Hitler and we all know tragedy his actions brought to the world,” said Cllr O’Rourke.

Addressing the issue of the war in Ukraine at the outset of Monday’s Municipal meeting, the Deputy Mayor said it was “very upsetting” to watch the daily reports coming from Ukraine and he predicted that the war would “drag on with” for a considerable time with all the tragic consequences of broken families, death, destruction and countless thousands of displaced people.

“I have no doubt that Ireland will step up the mark to help with giving sanctuary to refugees and that our town and county won’t be found wanting either,” he said.

Cllr O’Rourke then produced the Ukrainian flag and asked his council colleagues for their support to have it raised alongside the Tricolour at the Civic Centre as a signal of solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

He received unanimous support for his proposal.