Bob Geldof will join Sharon Shannon’s Big Band, Camille O’Sullivan, and musician and comedian Garron Noone at the annual Rock Against Homelessness concert in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day next year.
The show, which will be hosted by TV presenter and actress Laura Whitmore, takes place at the 3Olympia Dublin in aid of homeless charity Focus Ireland and will also feature Dublin singer Alky and singer-songwriter Colm Lynch.
Sharon Shannon. Photo Shannon: Colin Gillen
Tickets, priced €45 and €40.00, are on sale from Ticketmaster.ie this Friday 19 December, with all proceeds directly supporting services for people facing homelessness.
Now in its eleventh year, The Sunday Independent’s Rock Against Homelessness has established itself as a vital annual fundraiser for Focus Ireland, with Fontaines D.C., Kneecap, Dermot Kennedy, Lyra, Imelda May, Paul Brady, Glen Hansard and The Mary Wallopers all having played the gig in previous years.
Speaking about the show, Whitmore said: “It’s really important for me to be back hosting Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland. Music brings people together in the toughest times and this concert is vital in raising money and awareness for the current homelessness crisis.
Garron Noone
“It is completely unacceptable that 5000 children are without a home in Ireland. No child should experience that. We all need to remember that behind every percentage and number is a real person or family that needs a place to call home. This is a crisis that should not be happening.
“This terrible situation would be even worse without the great work of Focus Ireland and the fundraising concerts like this raise – they enable specialist support for children who are homeless and help protect from the trauma caused by their losing their homes.”
Pat Dennigan, CEO Focus Ireland said: “There are 16,600 people that are homeless at the moment in Ireland. That’s the worst it’s ever been.
“But also, by far the worst is that there is 5200 children in that position. That’s 5200 children that are facing into Christmas and the New Year in emergency accommodation.
“Somebody worked out that that is 222 primary school classes. That is just huge. What we are seeing is that children are going to school and doing their homework in emergency accommodation. They are growing up and trying to put their lives together from emergency accommodation.”