Kazakhstan to honour Irish woman

AN IRISH woman who has helped thousands of orphans in Kazakhstan is set to become the first westerner to receive its highest civilian honour.

Fiona Corcoran, the founder of the Greater Chernobyl Cause charity, will accept the honorary diploma and medal from President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the Ak Orda Palace in the Kazak capital of Astana next week in honour of her extensive humanitarian work.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled and I accept this on behalf of all our supporters through Ireland,” she said.