Ireland's acceptance of 541 refugees from the Soviet suppression of the 1956 Hungarian uprising is remembered with gratitude by Hungary's ambassador, János Balassa, and Manuel Jordao, the UNHCR representative in Ireland

Fifty years have passed from the time when the Hungarian people revolted against the communist regime and Soviet domination.

Although ultimately crushed, the revolution has remained ever since a potent symbol of the Hungarian people's fundamental commitment to democracy and freedom.

The 1956 Hungarian revolution and its aftermath presented the world with its first Cold War refugee crisis, and it was also an event which firmly placed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the recently established refugee agency, at the centre of the then gradually emerging refugee protection regime.

Hungarian refugees began crossing the Austrian frontier and into what then constituted Yugoslavia on October 28th, 1956.

The Austrian government announced immediately it would grant asylum to the refugees without reservation, but appealed for assistance from other countries to meet its international obligations.

On November 9th, the UN General Assembly asked the secretary general to call on UNHCR to consult other international agencies and interested governments to make speedy and effective arrangements for emergency assistance to the refugees.

An appeal for $10 million was launched on November 30th and the governments to which this appeal was addressed were also asked to admit Hungarian refugees in large numbers. From the outbreak of the revolution until early 1957, 172,000 Hungarian refugees had fled to Austria, and nearly 19,000 to Yugoslavia.

By April 1957, some 129,000 of these Hungarian nationals then subsequently emigrated from Austria, with smaller numbers repatriating from there to Hungary, but 38,000 remained in Austria without a solution. At the same time, nearly 16,000 remained in a similar situation in Yugoslavia.

In a remarkable demonstration of solidarity with the Hungarians, many governments abandoned restrictions in their immigration policies and granted visas to entire families, including the ill and disabled, without regard to quotas.

In response to the UN's appeals, Ireland accepted 541 Hungarian refugees in late 1956, the United Kingdom took 21,000; West Germany 15,000; Switzerland 13,000; France 13,000; Sweden 7,000; and Belgium 6,000.

Without prior experience, this was Ireland's first foray in providing for the resettlement of refugees, and a very clear early demonstration of Ireland's commitment to sharing the burden of protecting refugees.

In 1956, Ireland was still largely a country of emigration and only at the outset of developing its domestic economy. Accepting 541 Hungarians was a brave and highly humanitarian gesture from one of the growing number of UN member states. Most notably during this period, the Irish Red Cross set a shining example of dedication, commitment and caring for refugees.

While it cannot have been easy for Ireland to absorb 541 Hungarians in 1956, the reception and eagerness to help, both on a national and local level, were great.

The Hungarian refugees were housed in an old Army barracks in Knockalisheen in Co Clare. The economic climate was not conducive, but the Irish government made great efforts to accommodate the refugees, despite some criticism.

Many of the refugees subsequently departed Ireland to live in the United States, and in particular in Canada, which agreed bilaterally with Ireland to accept the refugees and open the labour market for them. We can see similar debates on the reception of asylum seekers in Europe today.

The history of solidarity between Ireland and the Hungarian people will long be remembered. The example set by Ireland in sharing Hungary's pain is as relevant today as it was in 1956.

Ireland continues to offer protection to refugees who reach its shores, and it continues to offer special programmes to alleviate the burden on other countries less able to cope with refugees on their territory.

Ireland established an annual refugee resettlement quota in recent years and last year it increased the quota from 10 cases (approximately 40 individuals) to 200 individuals per year. Ireland is one of only 17 countries worldwide with a resettlement programme.

UNHCR has commended Ireland's increased quota as "a model for other countries to follow, in order to share the global responsibility to protect vulnerable refugees".

This year marks two anniversaries for Ireland. It was in 1956 that Ireland ratified the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which is the basic international instrument that outlines its obligations to refugees. It was also 50 years ago, on October 23rd, that Ireland launched itself on the road to fulfilling its international obligations by so nobly accepting so many Hungarians.

The reception of Hungarian refugees in Ireland in 1956 is being marked on October 23rd this year by the Hungarian embassy, the Department of Justice, and Clare and Limerick county councils, with the unveiling of a commemoration plaque by ambassador Dr János Balassa in the refugee camp of Knockalisheen. The plaque in Knockalisheen will be a constant expression of gratitude to the Irish people for their warm and compassionate welcome to Hungarian refugees in 1956.