Richard Bodin
Ten years ago, The Sunday Independent launched Rock Against Homelessness to support Focus Ireland in its fight against homelessness. The initiative began with the recording of an album featuring Sinead O’Connor, The Chieftains, and The Cranberries, followed by the first live concert.
Focus Ireland’s latest figures are deeply alarming: nearly 15,000 people are currently homeless, including over 4,645 children. Over the years, the festival has helped raise an impressive €450,000 to aid the organization in its vital work.
The 10th edition of Rock Against Homelessness will take place on February 7th at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, headlined by Damien Dempsey. Joining him on stage will be Pillow Queens, Zeztra, JyellowL, and Pastiche, while Aidan Gillen will serve as MC for the evening.
Dempsey, a passionate advocate for this cause, expressed his frustration about the ongoing crisis:
It is beyond words of anger or sadness that this issue has not been fixed. What are the so-called people in power doing about it? I often wonder how they claim nothing can be done now, yet in the 1930s and 1940s—when Ireland was financially struggling—they still managed to build massive housing estates. Why can’t they do that now?
Aidan Gillen also voiced his concerns:
Anyone walking through our cities can see it—it would be really hard not to. People in sleeping bags and tents on streets, parks, by canals, queuing up for food in the middle of the night in the dead of winter. And then there’s the hidden side—whole families, including thousands of children, living in emergency accommodations, hostels, even cars.
Over the years, many renowned artists have stepped up to support this critical cause. Event organizer Brian Egan, who has been running Rock Against Homelessness for The Sunday Independent since its inception, recalls unforgettable performances, including The Boomtown Rats with Glen Hansard and The Strypes delivering a powerful rendition of Rat Trap, as well as electrifying sets by Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap.
As Rock Against Homelessness marks its 10th anniversary, the event continues to serve as both a fundraising powerhouse and a stark reminder of Ireland’s housing crisis. While the music industry unites in solidarity, the call for real action remains urgent. With homelessness at record levels, initiatives like these are more crucial than ever in driving change and demanding solutions from those in power.
