Charity concert to help raise money for Ukraine

Charity concert to help raise money for Ukraine

20 July 2022

THE Ballygowan Community Centre is hosting a concert to help the people of Ukraine.

A number of local acts will be taking part in the event next Friday, July 29, including Ballynahinch man Jonathan Johnston and his Ukrainian wife Iryna. 

One of Iryna’s last piano recitals in Mariupol was in the concert hall which was bombed early on in the conflict.

At the end of March — following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and particularly after the devastation of her home city of Mariupol — Iryna expressed the desire to do something positive to help the thousands of people there who had suffered so much. 

Her father-in-law, Brian Johnston, was also eager to help having been involved in raising money for numerous charities over the years. 

With his contacts in Comber Music Club and The Lindsay Chorale and through his close association with the Percy French Society a number of concerts, a film show and other events were arranged over the past few weeks. 

As a result of these, coupled with the sales of two books of humour that Brian has compiled, and with many generous donations, to date over £8,000 has been raised.

Brian is the main organiser of the forthcoming charity concert in Ballygowan which in addition to Jonathan and Iryna, features Comber Music Club, Crawford Bell and Graham Murphy. 

News of the concert comes after it was confirmed last week that Iryna, who lives in Ballynahinch with her husband, was celebrating after being reunited with her family who endured “hell on earth” in the besieged town of Mariupol.

Iryna, her husband Jonathan and the couple’s two children, are overjoyed with relief after a near five-month battle to get her family out of the town which has been left devastated by Putin’s vicious military assault.

The Johnston family finally welcomed Iryna’s mother, Tarama, brother Alexander and his wife Olga into their home in Ballynahinch on June 27.

And while Iryna can finally heave a huge sigh of relief that her family is safe and well after surviving bombardment and severe, daily hardship since the Russian invasion began, they have the burdensome hurdle of visas still to battle through.

The trio made their way to Northern Ireland via an arduous and dangerous route, including a frightening initial leg into the heart of the Ukrainian aggressor’s seat of power in Moscow.

Their journey took them first by car from the town of Melekyne, where they had taken refuge from the devastated Mariupol. They then had to take a lengthy road loop around Crimea before heading on to Moscow. 

From there, they flew to Istanbul in Turkey and then proceeded on to their final leg to Ireland through Dublin.

But now their status in the United Kingdom remains uncertain, due to the vagaries of the visa system which has come under considerable criticism since the war began.

Jonathan explained that when he enquired about visas for the trio he was assured that they could proceed to Northern Ireland and apply for them once they got here.

They were then obliged to get an official Home Office stamp at its branch in Belfast which would signal the start of the visa application process but were told that her status deemed her unable to help her family as she expected. 

The Ballynahinch couple have taken the family’s plight to Strangford MP Jim Shannon whom, they hope, will be able to iron out the glitches to let Iryna’s relatives begin to put down roots in Northern Ireland.

Tickets for the July 29 concert in Ballygowan priced £10 are available by contacting Brian on 07773 765781or email brianmjohnston@btinternet.com.