‘New life and a new beginning’: Syrians in Ireland celebrate the end of Assad’s rule

A jubilant Ahmed Saqqa from Aleppo celebrates in Shandon, Cork. Mr Saqqa fled Assad’s regime with his wife and children more than a decade ago. Picture: Chani Anderson

For Syrians living in Ireland, the toppling of the Assad dictatorship was a day they thought would never come — there is now “new life and a new beginning” for the first time in more than 50 years.

The burgeoning Syrian community in Ireland watched the scenes swiftly unfold in Damascus as Bashar al-Assad fled the country he has ruled with an iron fist since taking over from father, bringing to an end the family’s rule of 53 years.