Independent.ie are pleased to announce that this week they handed over a cheque for €70,000 to Focus Ireland, the proceeds from the Rock Against Homelessness gig on March 3rd in The Olympia, Dublin.
This is the money raised from ticket sales, guest list donations and additional money donated on the night and it couldn’t come at a better time for Focus Ireland, who are currently working to protect the homeless in the middle of an unprecedented public health emergency.
Rock Against Homelessness is now in its fifth year and the concert was a huge success with Fontaines D.C. curating the line-up and delivering a blistering set on the night. Trevor Dietz, manager of the band said, ‘Myself and the members of Fontaines D.C. are delighted that we could help in raising such vital money for Focus Ireland and their incredible work.’
“Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus could not happened without Fontaines DC who went out of their way from the moment they were contacted last November,” said the show’s promoter, Barry Egan of the Sunday Independent. “We can’t thank them or their manager, Trevor Dietz, enough.”
It was a gig that will go down as an unforgettable night filled with amazing music and good vibes. Enormous thanks to Caroline Downey and Denis Desmond of MCD for giving The Olympia Theatre rent free for the last five years, and thanks to the sponsors INM, Hard Rock Café and Cadbury Ireland who covered the costs of running the night. Thanks to Paul McLoone for his sterling work as MC, thanks to Newstalk and Today FM for the radio advertising, Ticketmaster for waiving their usual booking fee, and the volunteers who helped put the night together. Of course, a huge thanks to all the bands who gave their time so generously: The Murder Capital, Melts, Kneecap, Just Mustard, The Altered Hours, Stefan Murphy, and The Mary Wallopers (pictured on home page).
The €70,000 raised will help Focus Ireland in their fight particularly at this time with Covid-19 changing circumstances for everyone. People who are homeless are at additional risk of contracting illness and infections because of their circumstances and some homeless people may also have long-term health issues, which may put them at additional risk. Focus Ireland are monitoring the situation closely and putting additional measures in place to protect both their frontline staff and their service users.
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said: ‘The fact that we now have 70k to help us to protect families with children and individuals who are homeless during this public health emergency will be a great help in our work. The support our frontline staff provide for people who have nobody else to turn to at this time of crisis is possible because of the support of events like Rock Against Homelessness. I want to pay tribute to Fontaines D.C. and all the bands they got to play this year as well as the amazing support from INM.’
Peter Vendermeersch, Publisher at Independent News & Media (INM) said, ’More than ever before in our lifetimes the word ’solidarity’ is crucial. Independent.ie’s Rock Against Homelessness proved once again that solidarity in Ireland is not an empty shell. During this crisis, let’s not forget the people who most need our support.’
