Tag Archives: homeless

AFTER 18 years of helping the homeless in Ennis and throughout Clare Josie O’Brien has revealed that this will be her last year cooking Christmas dinner for the county’s most vulnerable. Over the years Josie has invited people to her home for Christmas and Easter dinner, as well as preparing food to be delivered to people in need. Covid-19 meant that the dinners at her home were stopped, but Josie and her team continued to supply hampers and meals. However, the 69-year-old says this Christmas will be her last time taking on the mammoth endeavour, telling us she is “burned out” from years of campaigning, fundraising and supporting those living on the streets as well as others in difficulty. Josie is hopeful that someone else may step in to help keep the annual Christmas dinner going, saying she feels the homeless situation is “getting worse” however she has done all that she can at this stage. “I’m doing this for …

CLARE TD Violet Anne Wynne this week posted a video saying her family have become homeless, and on Wednesday she told the Clare Champion that it is “probably the most stressful situation that anyone can find themselves in”. Ms Wynne is a mother of six, with her youngest child born in February and she said the family are currently in a short term rental, but it’s only for a couple of weeks. “We’re in a holiday home I was able to rent. It’s only for a specific time period, because we are in the summer season and there is a high demand for holiday homes at this time. It’s not only not sustainable, but it’s not available as an option going forward.” She said while staying in the West Clare area is desirable for the family, it may not be possible. #homelesscrisis@DarraghOBrienTD @fiannafailparty @FineGael @greenparty_ie Ireland 2022,when a TD can end up homeless!!! pic.twitter.com/jbulbTvurm — Violet-Anne Wynne TD (@violetannetd) June …

WHEN singer/songwriter Luka Bloom was first approached with the idea of headlining a concert in Ennis supporting homeless people he didn’t hesitate to say yes. The Kildare native, who has been living in Clare for the past decade, will be performing in the Clare Easter Concert this April 21 in glór. The concert, organised by homelessness campaigner Josie O’Brien, was due to be held last Christmas but was postponed due to Covid and Luka is now looking forward to getting on stage. Asked how he got involved with the show he laughs, “I don’t go looking to do benefit gigs,” before adding, “but you get the call and if my sister Anne Rynne or Josie or someone like that contacts me, you know you just have to do it. That it’s the right thing to do and you just say yes and you’re grateful to have been asked and very happy to participate.” Luka has long been an admirer of …

AN Ennis homelessness campaigner has said she has been helping working families who are being forced to make the choice between paying for their rent or mortgage and food, writes Jessica Quinn. Josie O’Brien was speaking to the Clare Champion ahead of next month’s ‘Clare Easter Concert’ in glór with funds raised being used to support local people in need and the homeless community. The concert takes place on April 21 with Luka Bloom headlining, and follows the cancellation of two planned Christmas concerts due to Covid-19. According to Josie the numbers of struggling people looking for help is rising all the time. “It’s awful, and it’s just continuous, there is definitely more of a need out there. I know people who are actually working and they have to make a choice between paying their mortgage or rent which is going up or buying food for their families. I help them as much as I can by giving them food …

A FESTIVE concert with a jam-packed line up of talent from Clare and beyond will raise funds to support the vulnerable this Christmas. For the past few years campaigner Josie O’Brien has organised a concert in glór to raise awareness of homelessness while also raising funds to purchase food hampers for those in need. Last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid-19, however the ‘Christmas Choir’ concert will return on December 18 of this year. Luka Bloom will feature as special guest alongside plenty more acclaimed talent, including Mike Hanrahan; The Fiddle Case; Eoin O’Neill and Clara Buteler; Sarah Ryan; Anne Rynne; Trevor Hansbury; John Fennell (Sean Nós); Sara Ryan (Sean Nós); Steo Wall: Fay Moloney and the Cork Penny Dinners High Hopes Choir with more guests to be announced. There will also be pre-concert music in the foyer with singer Susanne Murphy accompanied by Fiona Faulkes on piano. Kevyn Murphy is Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Josie told …

Clann Nua project had successful trial in Limerick AN innovative project aimed at tackling an accommodation shortage for single homeless people has been introduced to Clare. Mid-West Simon Community over the past few weeks has worked with Clare County Council to introduce the Tenancy Sustainment project throughout Ennis. Clann Nua meaning New Family was developed by Mid-West Simon Community in response to the shortage of single unit property which is resulting in single people having to remain in emergency accommodation for longer than necessary. Jackie Bonfield, CEO of Mid-West Simon Community said, “Clann Nua provides the opportunity for two or more previously homeless people to share one permanent rental housing unit. “These are acquired through CAS/RAS funding or through the Clare County Council long-term social lease with a private landlord.” Mid-West Simon started the initiative in the summer of 2020 with the backing of Limerick City and County Council and showing great success the programme is now being rolled out …

ENNIS is “becoming a problem area” with calls being made for the setting up of a special Joint Policing sub-committee with a specific focus on the county capital. This week’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District saw councillors raise concerns about anti-social behaviour which has been linked to the use of tourist buildings as homeless accommodation. Residents of Hermitage and Considine’s Terrace in Ennis have reported anti-social behaviour including incidences of drug dealing and intimidation associated with some living in Ashford Court under the Winter Initiative Project. While concerns have also been raised about residents at Westbrook House, a former bed and breakfast on the Gort Road being used for emergency accommodation. Councillor Johnny Flynn raised the issue at the meeting, requesting a report on the planning and development status of the ongoing homeless and emergency accommodation use of tourist accommodation buildings at both Ashford Court, and Westbrook.  He insisted that all councillors are “fully committed” to providing social housing. However …

THERE is tension in the Hermitage area of Ennis at the moment, with anger among residents at some of the behaviour that has been associated with the Ashford Court. Homeless people have been housed there for some time under the Winter Initiative project, designed to help rough sleepers. One woman said that there has been a lot of problematic behaviour in recent weeks. “It used to be a boutique hotel, you’d have had a lot of stags and hens there, and as residents we didn’t mind, they weren’t causing any issues. But the carry on that you’ve had lately is just disgraceful.” She said that there has been drug dealing in the vicinity. “You see people hanging around waiting to sell drugs or buy the drugs from someone there. The language, the vulgarity, I’d say they are so off their face they don’t realise it.” In general, there has been a very serious level of anti social behaviour in the …