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Over 400 GAA players sleep rough in solidarity with Ireland's homeless

More than 400 GAA players have held a sleep-out to highlight and try to fight the homeless crisis...
Newstalk
Newstalk

10.04 17 Dec 2017


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Over 400 GAA players sleep rou...

Over 400 GAA players sleep rough in solidarity with Ireland's homeless

Newstalk
Newstalk

10.04 17 Dec 2017


Share this article


More than 400 GAA players have held a sleep-out to highlight and try to fight the homeless crisis.

The group was made up of both current and former inter-county football, hurling and camogie players.

They have united under the the umbrella name 'Gaelic Voices for Change'.

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The solidarity sleep-out was held in 13 locations on Saturday from 6.00pm to 6.00am Sunday.

This included events in Dublin, Boston, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Belfast, New York, Portlaoise, Naas, Sligo, Wexford and Carlow.

New Dublin hurling manager Pat Gilroy joined his squad for the sleep-out, as did the Clare hurling squad who joined the Limerick event.

The Carlow women’s football team and Laois hurlers also participated as squads.

One former player also did it alone in Quebec, Canada in freezing temperatures.

Organisers say it is designed to "draw attention to the homelessness crisis, raise funds, and call for action".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Naas crew going strong. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolidaritySleepout?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SolidaritySleepout</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HomelessnessIsNotNormal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HomelessnessIsNotNormal</a> <a href="https://t.co/d36Tl36DnZ">pic.twitter.com/d36Tl36DnZ</a></p>&mdash; Gaelic Voices For Change (@GaelicVoices4Ch) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaelicVoices4Ch/status/942257530784440321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More than €177,000 has been raised so far for charities north and south.

The group adds that the GAA, which is based on community values, should use their voice to support the most vulnerable in society.

All funds raised go towards charities including the Peter McVerry Trust, DePaul Ireland, the Simon Communities, Focus Ireland and the Capuchin Day Centre, Cope Galway, Thomand House and Novas in Limerick, and the Welcome Organisation in Belfast.

People can also donate online here.


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