Tributes have been paid to Ann Delaney, a homeless woman who died in Dublin on Sunday.
For many years, the 47-year-old was looked after by Liberty Soup Run and the group organised a vigil to remember her last evening.
Hundreds gathered on Aungier Street to lay flowers, mourn and release balloons in Ms Delaney’s honour.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Liberty Soup Run spokesperson Chris O’Reilly said he would remember Ms Delaney as a “lovely lady” and she would be missed by many in the local community.
“She was just a well liked person, she was such a lovely lady and came from a lovely background and just fell on hard times,” he said.
“Now she’s passed away; it’s so, so sad.”
Homeless woman Ann Delaney, Dublin. 16/02/2014. Image: Liberty Soup KitchenLiberty Soup Run looked after Ms Delaney for five years and Mr O’Reilly got to know her to a certain extent.
“Even though she was living on the street, she was kind of private,” he said.
“She used to be a nurse and she had a child, she had a normal family and addiction just got a hold of her.”
“She was such a lovely lady… it’s so so sad.”
Last night, a vigil was held for homeless former nurse Ann Delaney, who tragically passed away in Dublin on Sunday.
Chris O’Reilly from Liberty Soup Run told us about Ann and homelessness in Dublin. pic.twitter.com/AhuVk9x58F— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) February 27, 2024
After Ms Delaney lost her job, she ended up living on the street and could usually be found in a sleeping bag on Dublin’s Aungier Street.
“God love her, it got worse and worse as the years went on,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“She couldn’t see a way out; we used to go to her every night and she’d be cracking jokes with you.
“She had a good sense of humour.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik, in whose constituency Ms Delaney resided, described her death as “such sad news” and said she had been a “local institution”.
Ms Delaney is the second rough sleeper to die in Dublin this year; in early January, a man was found dead on St Andrew’s Street by a homeless charity.
Main image: Mourners gather to honour the life of Ann Delaney. Photo: Leon Farrell/ © RollingNews.ie
