Ukrainian author presenting her new book Going West ("На захід від міста")

Join us for the literary evening with Ukrainian author Hanna Horodetska in Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

During the event, Hanna will present her book Going West (“На захід від міста”), recently published in Ukraine by Old Lion Publishing (Видавництво Старого Лева).

📖 This is the story of Nadiya, a woman who works at a hotel on an island where an increasing number of refugees are arriving. Frightened and bewildered, they find themselves in a place where everything is new and unfamiliar. Each person carries their own story, yet they all share the hope that things will work out for them in this new place. But are such hopes justified? And is it easy to accept that, in a new land, you must build your life from scratch?

📅 Tuesday, 17 November, 5–7 pm

📍 Portlaoise Parish Centre, Saint Peter & Paul's, Portleix House, Dublin Rd, Borris Little, Portlaoise, Co. Laois R32 FH67

🎙️The event will be conducted in both Ukrainian and English.

There will be an opportunity to purchase a Ukrainian-language copy of the book and have it personally signed by the author.

🎟️ Free admission, but registration is required.

The event will be modareted by Natalya Korniyenko, Ukrainian journalist, based in Ireland.

Organisers: Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Ireland, The Ukrainian Laois Support Association (ULSA), Laois County Council, Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT).

✍️ Hanna Horodetska is a Ukrainian writer, translator, and tour guide. She is the author of four books: Inclusion, Other Maria, The Lord Doesn’t Like Vegans, and Going West. In Ukraine, Hanna worked at the National Reserve Sophia of Kyiv, where she led tours for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Boris Johnson, Emine Erdoğan, and other prominent guests.

She has been living in Ireland since 2025 and works as a social worker for Tusla.

Description supplied by the event organiser.