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Tag Archives: Josie O’Brien

Josie’s final orders, but dinners for those in need to continue

PREPARATIONS are now fully underway for homelessness campaigner Josie O’Brien’s last year cooking Christmas dinner for vulnerable people in the county. Josie is busily getting ready to cook her final batch of festive meals, and she is urging the county’s homeless as well as others in need of a hot meal at Christmas time to get in touch with her on 087 1868530. She has also revealed that the work she began is set to continue with Fiona Faulkes and Dean Billet taking over supplying food to the homeless and others. Josie described the pair as “very passionate” as she wished them well in the endeavour. Earlier this year The Clare Champion highlighted a fundraising campaign by Fiona to develop shower facilities for the homeless. Donations can still be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/uusbyp-mobile-shower-for-the-homeless Josie is stepping back from her volunteering work after 18 years assisting the homeless as well as struggling families and others. Over the years Josie has invited people …

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Last orders! Josie calls time on Christmas Dinners for 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 …

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Luka adjusts to change of pace ahead of Ennis gig for homeless

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 …

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More Clare families left choosing between food and rent

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 …

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Martina puts granny in the frame

AN image captured by Corofin’s Martina Corry of her grandmother has pipped more than a thousand other entries to be selected as a winner in a nationwide competition. Martina’s photograph of her grandmother, Josie O’Brien, at her Tulla home was chosen as one of 12 winners in the Centra Live Today competition and will now feature in the store’s 2017 calendar. She will find out later this week if the photograph has taken the top award in the competition, judged by renowned photographer, Barry McCall, as well as Pippa O’Connor. Martina explained that the photograph was taken when she arrived to pick up her grandmother to take her to her niece’s 80th birthday party. “She was just standing there waiting for me and she just looked so cute I decided to take a photo. It was about three weeks ago and I had it on Instagram. “I didn’t tell her I’d entered it into the competition until they called me …

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