Ukrainian refugees pictured outside Athlone's Civic Square to mark 500 days of war in 2023.

CSO figures show over 1,900 Ukrainians remain in Westmeath

Published: Mon 14 Jul 2025, 12:00 PM

More than 1,900 people who fled the war in Ukraine remain living in Westmeath, according to latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Westmeath has become a place of refuge for Ukrainians fleeing the war, with a significant number of Ukrainian nationals residing in the county, particularly in Athlone, Mullingar, and Castlepollard. Westmeath County Council has been actively involved in providing accommodation and support to Ukrainian refugees.

However as of June 3, 1,971 recipients of Temporary Protection from Ukraine were residing in the county which is a significant drop of 894 from the 2,870 recorded in February of this year.

The decline has been seen across both urban and rural parts of Westmeath. Athlone Local Electoral Area (LEA) continues to host the largest number, with 871 Ukrainian nationals, followed by 725 in the Mullingar LEA. In the more rural Moate LEA, 143 people remain, while the Kinnegad LEA accounts for 237 residents.

The steady decrease in numbers reflects a national trend, as some beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are either relocating within Ireland or returning to Ukraine.

Despite the decline, local schools still serve a considerable number of Ukrainian students. According to the CSO, 295 children are currently enrolled in primary schools across Westmeath, with a further 166 attending secondary schools.

The figures are part of the CSO’s ongoing 'Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland' series, which tracks the impact of the ongoing war on communities throughout the country. The CSO has published the latest data on the number of people seeking refuge in Ireland in the 14th edition of its Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series.

Approximately 80,000 Ukrainians remain in Ireland, with nearly half of them women aged over 20. Just over a quarter are men in the same age group, while the remainder are under 20 years old.

By May of this year, more than 26,000 had found employment, earning an average weekly wage of €538. The majority work in wholesale, transport, and accommodation sectors according to the recent report.