Thurles Information

According to the Irish Govrnment: You are considered homeless if one of the following applies to you:-

• There is no accommodation available that you and any other person who normally lives with you, can reasonably stay in.
• You are living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other such institution, and you are living there because you have no suitable accommodation.
• You are unable to provide accommodation from your own resources.

In general, you may be considered homeless if you are:-

• Sleeping rough.
• Staying in an emergency hostel or refuge.
• Staying in bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation on a temporary basis.
• Staying temporarily with friends or family because you have nowhere else to go.
• Squatting (occupying a building illegally)

While our current Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs, perceive themselves as global statesmen striding the universe, 14,303 individuals accessed emergency accommodation nationally in June 2024 – an increase of 144 (1%) on May 2024.

The Fountain.

Lyrics: American country singer/songwriter Mitch Rossell.
Vocals: Mitch Rossell [Third place finisher in Season 18 of America’s Got Talent.]

Please read the lyrics hereunder.

The Fountain.

My name is James Lee Roberts, and I think I’m 36,
But it’s hard to keep track of the days when you live a life like this.
I look for ways to eat and a place to sleep when it gets dark,
But I spend most of my time on this bench here in the park.
And every day is different, but as long as it don’t rain,
There’s a fountain with an angel where strangers bring their change.
They stand there for a minute, some even close their eyes,
And right off of their fingertips they let their wishes fly.
And I can’t help but think as they sink in the water,
That if you add ’em up it’d get me through at least a little while.
So I wonder how long wishes have to sit there at the bottom,
Before the chance of coming true passes by.
Cars and clothes and money, and houses on a hill,
Faith and love and happiness, and broken hearts to heal.
Every dream is different, but every dreamer is the same,
We’re all in search of something that a little change can bring.
And I can’t help but think as they sink in the water,
That if you add ’em up it’d get me through at least a little while,
So I wonder how long wishes have to sit there at the bottom,
Before the chance of coming true passes by.
And I can’t help but think as they sink in the water,
That if you add ’em up it’d get me through at least a little while.
Oh but if I made a wish to get my life out of rock bottom,
I wouldn’t want somebody taking mine.
My name is James Lee Roberts, and I think I’m 36
But it’s hard to keep track of the days when you live a life like this.

END

According to the 2022 census, there are 163,433 vacant homes in Ireland, of which 48,000 have been empty since 2016.