What does it mean to preserve your identity while building a new home thousands of kilometres away?
For Ukrainian Evening Sligo, it means bringing people together — to speak, sing, dance, create and share Ukrainian culture, while becoming an active part of the community that welcomed them.
Founded four years ago by Valentyn Stankov, Ukrainian Evening Sligo is a volunteer-led community organisation working to unite Ukrainians in Sligo, preserve and promote Ukrainian culture, support Ukrainian creativity, and build stronger connections between Ukrainian, Irish and international communities.
At the heart of the organisation is a simple belief: integration should not mean losing who they are.
“We are incredibly grateful to Ireland for giving so many Ukrainians a place of safety and belonging. For us, integration does not mean losing who we are. Especially during the war, preserving our Ukrainian identity, culture and national consciousness is more important than ever.
“We want to become an active part of the community here, while remaining deeply connected to who we are as Ukrainians — and creating something meaningful together,” says Yuliia Balan, Director of Ukrainian Evening Sligo.
The group’s logo displayed on a banner
Over the past year, that mission has become increasingly visible across Sligo.
The organisation took part in the 2026 St Patrick’s Day Parade, bringing Ukrainian and Irish cultural elements together through music, dance and traditional dress as a way of expressing gratitude to Ireland and the Irish people for their welcome and kindness.
Their performance won first place, marking a proud moment for the Ukrainian community in Sligo and a celebration of the connection between the two cultures.
Ukrainian Evening Sligo has also expanded its impact across the community through Ukrainian cultural evenings, folk dancing, community events and film screenings — creating spaces where Ukrainians and local people can meet, share their cultures, form friendships and feel part of the same community.
In August, more than 350 people joined its Ukrainian Independence Day celebration at The Model, where Ukrainian musicians, singers, dancers, poets, artists and makers shared their culture with the wider Sligo community.
Together, the community also raised €2,000 to provide essential, life-saving support for those defending Ukraine.
But Ukrainian Evening Sligo wants to show something deeper.
For the past several years, much of the world has encountered Ukraine through war, displacement and loss. These realities cannot be ignored, but they do not define Ukrainian identity as a whole.
Ukraine is a country with centuries of history and a deep cultural identity — one expressed through its language, art, music, traditions and creativity, but constantly evolving through new ideas, contemporary culture and innovation.
That is why the organisation wants to give Ukrainian artists, musicians, young people, volunteers and creators a space to be heard — while passing Ukrainian culture to the next generation growing up far from home.
At the same time, Ukrainian Evening Sligo does not want to create a closed Ukrainian community. Its events are open to everyone.
Irish people learn Ukrainian dances. Ukrainians discover Irish traditions. People from different countries meet, talk and create friendships.
That exchange is exactly the point.
Ukrainian Evening Sligo is now looking towards its next chapter: more cultural and educational events, new collaborations, opportunities for Ukrainian creatives and, most importantly, more reasons for communities in Sligo to come together.
“We are proud to be Ukrainian. We are grateful to call Sligo home. And we believe we do not have to choose between the two,” says Yuliia.
© Sligo Champion