Independent.ie's Rock Against Homelessness team have handed over a cheque for €70,000 to Focus Ireland following the huge success of their gig at the Olympia in Dublin on March 3.
Fontaines D.C. and The Murder Capital were among the acts to take part in the show, which is now in its fifth year, and the money raised came from ticket sales, guest list donations and additional money donated on the night.
Organisers say that the funds couldn’t come at a better time for Focus Ireland, who are currently working to protect the homeless in the middle of the unprecedented public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus outbreak.
Trevor Dietz, manager of Fontaines D.C., 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 D.C. 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."
The Olympia Theatre has made the venue rent free for the event for the last five years, and Independent News Media, the Hard Rock Café and Cadbury Ireland covered the costs of running the night.
Kneecap, Just Mustard, The Altered Hours, Stefan Murphy, and The Mary Wallopers also played on the night.
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.'
