WALLIS BIRD

Rock Against Homelessness

in aid of Focus Ireland

Saturday 16th April Doors

Open 7pm, Show starts 8pm

Tickets: €20

www.gr8events.ie

Gorey Little Theatre would like to thank www.gr8events.ie who have waived their booking fee’s for this concert.

We would also like to thank our lighting engineer Mr. Eddie O’Brien and our sound engineer Mr. Fergal Canterbury, who have both offered their services for free on the night. THANKYOU.

Sponsored by Cadbury and Arachas Insurance  

The Sunday Independent’s Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus Ireland will take place on Saturday, 16th April at Little Theatre in Gorey, county Wexford. 

Headlined by the award-winning singer-songwriter Wallis Bird, who was raised in Enniscorthy and is now based in Berlin where she is a major star, Rock Against Homelessness promises to be a great night of great music. It will feature Wallis and some surprise guests in aid of a very worthy cause.  

"I’m proud to be part of this show. Homelessness breaks my heart as it can whip us at any stage in our lives for the harshest or most mundane of reasons. So, I hope we raise a load of money. I’ll play my heart out,” says Wallis whose new album ‘Hands’ is released on May 27 on Mount Silver/Virgin Records. 

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan says: "I would like to offer a very sincere thanks to Wallis Bird who is very kindly coming over home to Wexford from her base in Berlin to play this Rock Against Homelessness gig to raise vital funds for the work of Focus Ireland in the local area. We have to raise over 40% of our annual budget through fundraising and events such as this so we can always be there when people need a bit of support."  

He added: "Sadly, the housing and homeless crisis is now getting worse again as the figures are on the rise. There are 9,150 people homeless nationwide and the sheer number of children and families who are on the verge of homelessness due to the unstable housing sector is appalling. 

"There are now over 2,500 children who are homeless within 1100 families, and most lost their homes in the rental sector due to rocketing rents, insecurity of tenure and the rising cost of living. Rents have now passed the peak of the Celtic Tiger and when linked to the spiralling cost of living this has left many thousands of families and individuals at a tipping point between home and homelessness.

"Meanwhile, in Wexford the latest figures show 25 individuals are homeless and there are 23 families and 35 children homeless across the South-East area, which includes Wexford. While the number of families and people may not seem high compared to the overall figures it is still far too many people and there are many more at serious risk due to the rising rents, cost of living and a lack of housing.  It’s vital to remember behind every single figure is a real person, a man, woman or child who is suffering due to homelessness.  This is wrong and must end.

“We are working hard in Wexford in partnership with the Local Authorities to help prevent many people from becoming homeless by supporting them in their homes and this concert will enable us to help more in Wexford. 

“Focus Ireland works hard every day to help prevent people from losing their homes and these services are needed now more than ever in Wexford and around the country.”

Peter Vandermeersch, publisher of Mediahuis says: "As a publisher, we want to keep the fight against homelessness very high on the agenda. In our different publications in print and online we write about the issue and about the possible solutions. That’s also why we are happy to link The Sunday Independent to this great event in Wexford."