Diplomat vows to build Markievicz centre in Ukraine

A MUSEUM to honour 1916 heroine Countess Constance Markievicz in her husband Casimir's Ukrainian village was pledged yesterday…

A MUSEUM to honour 1916 heroine Countess Constance Markievicz in her husband Casimir's Ukrainian village was pledged yesterday.

The Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland, Borys Bazylevskiy, made the promise during a visit to her childhood home, Lissadell House, Co Sligo, where he was greeted by owners Eddie Walsh and Constance Cassidy.

The ambassador's visit was prompted by personal research into the links between Lissadell and Ukraine.

Although known as a Polish count, Casimir Dunin-Markievicz's family had close links with the Ukrainian village of Zywotowka. The couple, both artists, travelled for two years, in 1902 and 1903, after their wedding, to Ukraine.

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The ambassador said yesterday that a museum will be established in Zywotowka and dedicated to Constance and Casimir. The museum will feature copies of paintings and documents from Lissadell.

Ambassador Bazylevskiy said: "There are a number of unknown pages in the history of our countries. We have many close ties and bonds.

"Ireland is on the western edge of Europe and Ukraine is on the eastern. We had some tragic pages in our history and we both struggled for independence."