"Pray for the dead. But fight like hell for the living." These are the words of Mother Jones, the gutsy labor leader, but they could easily apply to another Irish American, Mary Rose McGeady, the Sisters of Charity nun in charge of Covenant House, Runaways, and troubled teens. Kids whose worlds have crumbled around them. For many, Covenant House is their only sanctuary from … [Read more...] about Cherish the Children
Homelessness
First Word: Making a Difference
Did you ever panhandle? Ask for money on the street? One day, too hot and lazy to walk 12 blocks, I decided to see if I could bum the price of a subway token, my wallet being back in the desk of my nice air-conditioned office. So in New York's Grand Central Station I hesitantly approached an average-type woman, someone like myself, who would surely empathize. Or so I thought. … [Read more...] about First Word: Making a Difference
Homeless Crisis as Economy Booms
Ireland is a tale of two countries. While the economy is booming, the country is also facing the worst homelessness crisis in living memory, according to one of its leading homeless charities, Focus Ireland.There is now a record total of 9,689 people homeless, a number that includes more than 4,000 children.“The worrying thing about how systemic homelessness is becoming is that … [Read more...] about Homeless Crisis as Economy Booms
Tackling Ireland’s Homelessness Crisis
The housing crisis and collapse of the Celtic Tiger in the first decade of the 2000s led to a major increase in homelessness in Ireland. However, organizations like Merchant’s Quay in Dublin are hoping to help Ireland’s homeless population as well as bring awareness to a crisis that has escalated in recent years. According to FOCUS Ireland, the increased rates of homelessness … [Read more...] about Tackling Ireland’s Homelessness Crisis
Weekly Comment: Fionnula Flanagan’s Plea to End Dublin Homelessness
The takeover and conversion of an unused government-owned Dublin office building into a homeless shelter is “the most revolutionary event to have occurred in that city since 1916,” writes Fionnula Flanagan. ℘ ℘ ℘ Hollywood legend and Irish America Hall of Famer Fionnula Flanagan, known for her movies like Waking Ned Devine, The Others, and Devine Secrets of the Ya-Ya … [Read more...] about Weekly Comment: Fionnula Flanagan’s Plea to End Dublin Homelessness