Over €250,000 raised through irishrail.ie for Irish Red Cross Ukraine and Gaza appeals
15 Lúnasa 2025
Iarnród Éireann and IRC partnerships extend over twenty years
Many of our customers will have seen and selected the optional donation to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine and Gaza appeals as part of their booking process at www.irishrail.ie - your generous support has now seen over €250,000 raised for the Irish Red Cross since the optional donation was introduced.
Iarnród Éireann and its customers supporting Irish Red Cross
Iarnród Éireann first began supporting the Irish Red Cross in 2005, in aid of the emergency appeal for the victims of the devastating Asian tsunami. Over time, this partnership has expanded to include financial support for a number of Irish Red Cross emergency appeals as well as spearheading humanitarian-based public awareness campaigns.
Encouraging people living in and visiting Ireland to participate with and reflect on values they share with the Irish Red Cross, Iarnród Éireann launched the ‘Inner Light’ art exhibition at Pearse Station in 2023, and recently commissioned a new mural at Tara Street Station to celebrate the #NotAlone advocacy for safe homes for all. These installations have highlighted positive messages of unity, community and humanity, with an emphasis on promoting open-arms inclusion and integration.
Furthering this message of humanitarianism, Iarnród Éireann opened donation options to their customers, in addition to their own contributions. This has been incredibly effective, most notably, in aid of the Irish Red Cross emergency appeal in aid of the Ukraine Crisis, for which, Iarnród Éireann and their customers gave nearly €180,000.
Given the severity of devastation at the hands of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Iarnród Éireann’s support to the Irish Red Cross expanded in July 2024 to contribute to the ongoing work they are doing to support people who are suffering as a result of the conflict in Gaza as well as continuing to support those who are deeply affected by the conflict in Ukraine. A further €70,000 has been raised to date, bringing the total raised to just over €250,000.
Jim Meade, Chief Executive, Iarnród Éireann said “the crises engulfing both Gaza and Ukraine deeply resonate with Irish people and with our customers. We are grateful to our customers for their generosity to date, and to the Irish Red Cross for the support they have provided in Gaza, in Ukraine and for Ukrainians in Ireland.”
Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General, Irish Red Cross of Irish Red Cross said “We are tremendously grateful for our 2-decades long partnership with Iarnród Éireann. The generosity of Iarnród Éireann and their customers is humbling and has had an immeasurable, positive impact on so many lives around the world. As this relationship has grown in recent years, so too, has the impact of your support, including building awareness around critical, humanitarian themes such as inclusion and empathy. Thank you for your continued kindness and compassion.”
Where your donations are used
Ukraine Crisis
The Irish Red Cross continues to provide humanitarian assistance here in Ireland as well as in Ukraine and their border countries, in response to the ongoing crisis they are experiencing.
In Ireland, Irish Red Cross volunteers support Ukrainians as they arrive, including with transport, signposting, hygiene and welcome packs, as well as providing vouchers. Community-based integration and psychological first aid supports are also readily available as they settle into their new lives here in Ireland.
Conditions remain dire in Ukraine, where approximately 40% of Ukrainians require humanitarian assistance. Irish Red Cross continues to support the efforts on the ground in and around Ukraine with its partner National Societies to support where it is needed the most.
Support for Ukrainians in Ireland
As part of its mandate as an auxiliary to the Irish Government, the Irish Red Cross provides humanitarian support to vulnerable groups. Within this role, it operates a pledged accommodation programme to coordinate the pledges and Ukrainian refugee placements.
The Irish Red Cross’s Pledge Accommodation has provided a critical response for people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Since the start of the crisis in Ukraine, the Pledged Accommodation Programme has seen 16,478 Ukrainians being supported in 6,424 homes, including a significant number of householders in Ireland offering to host people fleeing conflict in Ukraine within their own homes.
In an effort to encourage and promote holistic, healthy integration, Irish Red Cross teams have organised transport for newly-arrived Ukrainians to their host families in Ireland, and continued helping these families and individuals with valuable information relative to engaging with schools, medical services, every day shopping and more.
An Irish Welcome & Authentic Integration
In addition to its efforts in coordinating accommodation, the Irish Red Cross Ukrainian Community Support Programme (or ‘Svitlo’ which means ‘light’ in Ukrainian) has supported 6,239 participants by providing 1,314 various classes, including in language, arts, mental health and physical wellness.
Developed with the intention of addressing issues Ukrainians face after resettling in Ireland, the Svitlo Programme provides mental health supports for Ukrainians; community engagement; communications and advocacy; and ancillary support from the Irish Red Cross Migration department. Particular attention has been paid to provide tailored, extra support to children to enable their access to education.
Support for Ukrainians in Ireland
As part of its mandate as an auxiliary to the Irish Government, the Irish Red Cross provides humanitarian support to vulnerable groups. Within this role, it operates a pledged accommodation programme to coordinate the pledges and Ukrainian refugee placements.
The Irish Red Cross’s Pledge Accommodation has provided a critical response for people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Since the start of the crisis in Ukraine, the Pledged Accommodation Programme has seen 16,478 Ukrainians being supported in 6,424 homes, including a significant number of householders in Ireland offering to host people fleeing conflict in Ukraine within their own homes.
In an effort to encourage and promote holistic, healthy integration, Irish Red Cross teams have organised transport for newly-arrived Ukrainians to their host families in Ireland, and continued helping these families and individuals with valuable information relative to engaging with schools, medical services, every day shopping and more.
An Irish Welcome & Authentic Integration
In addition to its efforts in coordinating accommodation, the Irish Red Cross Ukrainian Community Support Programme (or ‘Svitlo’ which means ‘light’ in Ukrainian) has supported 6,239 participants by providing 1,314 various classes, including in language, arts, mental health and physical wellness.
Developed with the intention of addressing issues Ukrainians face after resettling in Ireland, the Svitlo Programme provides mental health supports for Ukrainians; community engagement; communications and advocacy; and ancillary support from the Irish Red Cross Migration department. Particular attention has been paid to provide tailored, extra support to children to enable their access to education.
Gaza Crisis
The continuation and escalations of conflict in Gaza impact the lives of everyone living there. The human toll is immense, and more than 2 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Across Gaza, it is estimated that 85% of the total population have been forced to leave their homes behind and are seeking refuge in shelters, in hospitals, schools or sleep out in the open.
Irish Red Cross is providing funding in support of its partners – Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) – to respond to these urgent needs. Since the conflict’s onset, Palestinian Red Crescent teams have delivered first aid, emergency healthcare, support of internally displaced individuals, aid distributions, and psychosocial first aid.
While restrictions have intermittently disrupted humanitarian efforts, the Irish Red Cross continues to help the Palestine Red Crescent provide life-saving aid on an ongoing basis, whenever and wherever possible.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) are working day and night, risking their lives to deliver vital assistance. It is one of only two organisations responsible for receiving and distributing aid coming into Gaza.
Funding from the Irish Red Cross has supported the PRCS coordinate the collection and distribution of medical supplies, food parcels, milk, blankets, mattresses, water, hygiene kits, kitchen sets and baby necessities.
Amid a spiralling health crisis and unacceptable high levels of loss, the PRCS continue to courageously provide emergency medical services to communities throughout Gaza.
Food insecurity continues to reach critical heights, as those in Gaza face a growing risk of death by starvation with several people, including infants, having already died of malnutrition and dehydration.