Why one Irishman swapped his 'holiday of a lifetime' for volunteering with refugees

A Buddhist retreat prompted Gerry Clancy to rethink his plans and now he works with Refugee Support Europe — and his home village of Kilfinane is supporting him all the way

Gerry Clancy planned to see the Great Wall of China but belatedly felt 'woeful guilt about spending €6,000 on myself'. Two months later, he set off to work in a Greek refugee camp. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

After running a company for more than two decades, Gerry Clancy from Kilfinane in Limerick was due to go on the holiday of a lifetime in 2018, a treat for his 65th birthday.

He decided he would finally see the Great Wall of China and travel the Yangtze River.