Glen Hansard on Home Sweet Home."We’ve got people without homes. We’ve got homes without people. Surely we’ve just got to get them together."
Listen to his interview on The Ryan Tubridy Show this morning, Tuesday December 20, here.
Colin Farrell also spoke to Ryan Tubridy on the show - more details on his interview and you can listen back below.
Glen Hansard
Some of the best-known figures in Irish music and film have lent their support to the Home Sweet Home movement in their takeover of the Nama-controlled Apollo House on Poolbeg Street, in Dublin, to provide shelter for homeless people as winter sets in. Film director Jim Sheridan, actress Saoirse Ronan, singers Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey and Hozier, have all backed the action.
But few voices can match the passion and commitment of Oscar-winning musician Glen Hansard, whose appearance on the Late Late Show last Friday he describes as one of the most nerve-wracking public events of his life.
This morning, he spoke once again to Ryan Tubridy about the reasons behind the occupation and the enormously positive response it has received from the wider public.
“This isn’t about flying a flag for this or that. This is humanitarian. And it’s what it needs to remain.”
Glen describes the current movement as a non-political “intervention”, necessary and justified because of government inaction on homelessness. In fact, he says, politicians have not been allowed access to Apollo House in order to make that fact clear.
Glen told Ryan how he was walking along the road with one of the guys from Kodaline recently, who came out with a line that really summed up the simplicity, and in the way the tragedy, of the current situation.
“We’ve got people without homes. We’ve got homes without people. Surely we’ve just got to get them together.”
As much as anything else, according to Glen, the current action is about starting a national conversation, trying to get some genuine movement across the board on tackling the homelessness issue, rather than a group of people entering the business of providing shelter themselves. That said, the advent of winter and the coming of Christmas have made the move timely and imperative.
During the conversation, Ryan reminded listeners that Dublin City Council has now given permission to demolish Apollo house, as part of a €50 million redevelopment of the area. But according to Glenn, “the building is in great shape. It’s a beautiful building and it’s serving a great purpose. If they are demolishing it anyway, perhaps they should leave us in it for the moment, at least until the weather changes.”
The Home Sweet Home movement has really made its mark and, as of this morning, over €104,000 has been raised through the website GoFundMe. The fundraiser was set up in a heartbeat, according to Glen, and the response has been phenomenal.
“The passion behind the Irish people, when they are moved by something, it’s just an extraordinary thing. It’s very humbling.”
The money raised will go towards kitchen equipment for Apollo House, bedding, heating, lighting, food and other essentials. If they are evicted and even pursued by the authorities, he says, the money may well go towards legal bills! If not, any excess will be donated to charities working in the homelessness field.
And if you are interested in donating, the website, as given out by Ryan on air, is www.gofundme.com/home-sweet-home-ireland
Colin Farrell
The actor spoke to Ryan live from LA. about how upset he is with all the homeless in Dublin. He is involved in the Homeless Street League and feels the country needs to step up its effort to house all those who are sleeping on the streets.
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