An ‘eye opening’ taste of life on the streets
COUNCILLOR AND KILLARNEY CHAMBER CHIEF SPEND A NIGHT SLEEPING ROUGH
COUNCILLOR Niall Kelleher and Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce President Kate O’Leary both swapped home comforts for sleeping bags on Friday night (October 21), as they participated in the Focus Ireland Shine a Light National Campaign – an experience they both described as ‘surreal’.
The initiative saw public representatives and business people from the Cork and Kerry area sleeping under winter elements on the grounds of Cork City jail, in a bid to raise funds and awareness for the battle against homelessness.
Speaking to The Kerryman, Councillor Kelleher described the experience as ‘eye opening.’
“We were blessed with the weather, there wasn’t a drop of rain, yet we were still freezing,” the Deputy Mayor of Killarney said.
“I woke up after getting a few hours of sleep, and was soaking wet from the dew – and that’s what it was like on a good night.
“We had the four walls of the premises sheltering us to some extent, so it’s frightening to think about what it would have been like without that cover.” Cllr Kelleher added
Ms O’Leary’s description of the experience was similar, and she explained the strange emotions that it stirred up.
“It wouldn’t be right to say this was an authentic experience of homelessness; it wasn’t,” she told The Kerryman.
“I was prepared, and I had the comfort of knowing I was going back to my warm home and my family. People who’re going through the real thing don’t have that to cling on to.
“Being an organised event, we had security, which was an additional comfort. I’m glad I took part, but it’s scary to think of what it would be like to go through that every night,” she said.
Councillor Kelleher explained that the sleep-out was preceded by an uplifting talk from two people who’d experienced homelessness but found their feet with help from Focus Ireland. Thereafter, the High Hopes Choir – made up of people who were once homeless – belted out a song before the participants slipped into sleeping bags from midnight.
The Fianna Fáil Councillor said he was delighted to have taken part in the sleep out, as well as other recent fundraisers for Focus Ireland.
“We’ve had other events like last Wednesday’s table quiz in The Laurels in Killarney, which gathered €1,100, and we’ll be running more initiatives from here out,” he said
“It’s an issue affecting many people right now, and it was a pleasure to help.”