Press Release

Irish Red Cross received shamrock at Dóchas Centre as a symbol of global solidarity with those in need

Mar 13, 2025

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Three women standing outdoors in a courtyard, holding containers of fresh green shamrocks. They are smiling, and a red brick building is visible in the background.

The Irish Red Cross received a shamrock presentation at the Dóchas centre today, on the request of Sabina Higgins, wife of the President, as a symbol of global solidarity with people whose lives have been devastated by conflict, disaster and humanitarian crisis. The exchange of shamrocks at Irish prisons in the lead up to St. Patrick’s Day is a recent tradition established by Mrs Higgins to acknowledge and express solidarity with those who are vulnerable and in need.  

The Irish Red Cross were joined by members of the Ukrainian community who fled to safety in Ireland following the escalation of conflict in their country in 2022.  

Unimpeded humanitarian access is essential to ensure organisations like ours can carry out our mission. The Irish people have demonstrated huge solidarity to the current crisis and Ireland continues to respond generously.

Mrs Higgins said: We must acknowledge our role as citizens of the world, with a duty to stand in solidarity with all those across the globe who are vulnerable and in need.  

Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General, Irish Red Cross said: There are more than 200 conflicts happening worldwide today, each one dramatically changing the lives of people. In Gaza and Ukraine, we see the devastating impact on individual lives that we can never measure. Unimpeded humanitarian access is essential to ensure organisations like ours can carry out our mission. The Irish people have demonstrated huge solidarity to the current crisis and Ireland continues to respond generously. At the Irish Red Cross, we have seen what I can only describe as an incredible national movement of kindness with thousands of Irish households sharing their homes to host Ukrainian people in their time of need. This is truly unique, and we should feel very proud. Irish people are guides, mentors, and bridges into local communities. They help with language, local networks, and creating a true sense of belonging empowering those we welcomed as refugees and empowering them to make a difference in local communities across Ireland.

Governor Lorraine McCarthy, Dóchas Centre said: It is with immense pride and gratitude that we present this bespoke bowl of shamrock, cultivated within the Dóchas Centre, to the Irish Red Cross on behalf of Mrs Higgins, whose compassion and dedication is a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us all of the transformative power of kindness and understanding.

The Irish Red Cross is part of the global Red Cross Red Crescent movement and works to support people in times of crisis and disaster, providing emergency response and specialised health and wellbeing supports to help people to recover and rebuild their lives.  

ENDS 

Notes to Editor: 

Irish Red Cross supports for Ukrainians: 

  • The Irish Red Cross leads a consortium of partners who engage in the Ukraine Accommodation pledge programme, funded by DCEDIY.  The partners are Helping Irish Hosts (HIH) and IOM. Through the Irish Red Cross and its partners, over 13,000 Ukrainian people have found safety in more than 6,000 homes across Ireland. The Irish Red Cross started its work with the Accommodation pledge programme in 2015 for the Syrian response. 
  • The generosity of the Irish public is helping the Irish Red Cross to fund five community centres across various regions of Ukraine to provide people with access to essential services, including psychosocial support, public health initiatives, socio-economic empowerment activities and initiatives designed to foster stronger community resilience.  
  • Children and adults across 16 regions of Ukraine are being provided with targeted psychological support by trained Red Cross workers to help them cope with their experiences and begin to rebuild their lives.  
  • In Ireland, 410 Ukrainians and front-line support workers have participated in psychological first-aid training, a powerful Red Cross intervention to help people who have experienced disaster, tragedy and loss. The skills empower the helper to help others, and also to apply the same skills to their own crises.  
  • Narrative Exposure Therapy (i.e. post traumatic stress disorder therapy) has been provided to almost 300 Ukrainian people in Ireland to treat complex trauma disorders. It helps the client to piece together and re-order their memories and potentially reduces negative impact of trauma for their future.  
  • Grief management training has also been provided to almost 400 Ukrainians in Ireland. 
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