Top Ulster GAA stars in ‘sleepout’ for homeless
A SLEEPOUT by GAA stars who braved the winter chill in aid of charity is expected to raise at least £175,000.
The Gaelic Voices For Change group organised sleepouts at 12 locations across Ireland, including Belfast, on Saturday night.
More than 50 football, hurling, ladies’ football and camogie players from 18 clubs based themselves at Cornmarket, before meeting some of the city’s homeless.
One taxi driver approached the group and donated £80 of his night’s takings, while another donor contributed £500.
Gerard McNally, one of the chief organisers, hailed the success of the evening.
He said: “We had an exceptional turnout of players from throughout Ulster, massive thanks has to go to Gemma Begley (Women’s Gaelic Player’s Association), Mark Sweeney and Conor Murray (from the Antrim senior football team), and all others that helped in any way to make it such a successful event.
“We gave out in the region of 60 sleeping bags, at the last count, to people who were in dire need of it. We hope that this goes some way to making a change, because this isn’t right and it isn’t human.”
Fermanagh hurler Declan McGarry took part on the night alongside his brothers Kevin and Cathal, and county team-mates Sean Corrigan and Andrew Breslin.
A solicitor who lives and works in Belfast, he felt he needed to be a part of the movement.
“It is important to raise the money, but it is also important
to raise awareness, not only that, but to get an experience into feeling what homelessness is, to get an insight into it, just so you can understand,” he said.
“A lot of it came from Dublin, where homeless people have
been dying on the streets, and then it became an all-Ireland movement.”
He added: “It makes you realise that when people get out of the bars around closing time, if you were on your own it would
be a very frightening experience. A lot of people were drunk and coming up to you.
“Because there was so many of us, there was safety in numbers, but if you were on your own, you would be very exposed. Especial- ly if you were a woman — some of them are tortured with drunk people giving them abuse.”
Nearly 12,000 households were accepted as homeless in Northern Ireland in the 12 months to April, according to a recent Audit Office report.
In Belfast rough sleepers are only a tiny proportion of it.
Many families live in hostels, bed and breakfasts and are raising their children in unsecured accommodation. Around 60 people declare themselves homeless every day.
Mr McGarry admitted it was something of an uncomfortable evening.
“When you walk through the city centre and you see people homeless, of course it is difficult but it is something you try to push to the back of your mind because you don’t want to think of it,” he added. “But it concentrates the mind when you experience what they are doing. Even during the night you talk to people around you about it. We were doing it for one night, and yes, it’s difficult, but you still console yourself knowing you are going home at the end of it.
“But to do it night after night would be so soul-destroying, with people abusing you or ignoring you, and families are being raised in these hostels which are not particularly nice environments.”
He added: “I think in the GAA you can take what you have for granted if you fell on hard times. Everybody around you would row in behind you. Worst-case scenario, you would never be stuck, whereas these people don’t seem to have anyone.”