President Mary McAleese has opened a hostel that caters for former servicemen and women of the defence forces who are homeless.
President Mary McAleese
Brú Na BhFiann is a 40-bed complex that has been upgraded from a 20-bed centre opened in 1994 by the Organisation of National Ex-servicemen & Women (ONET) in response to a number of homeless ex-servicemen being found dead on Dublin’s streets.
The original hostel was built in Queen's Street and has now been expanded to the 40-bed premises in North King Street.
President Mary McAleese said: “This is a place of comfort, ease and welcome for men and women who honoured this country in their service with our armed forces, often making themselves uncomfortable in that service, undertaking work that was far from easy and often working in less than welcoming environments".
ONET chief executive Mr. Joe Lynch, said, “We are delighted with this incredible development as we have always believed that dignity and respect are the key to self esteem.
"In the last 14 years our organisation has catered to over 460 ex-service personnel on the east coast who would otherwise have had nowhere else to go.
"Our time in uniform has been important to us and has afforded us some marvellous opportunities and ONET simply wishes to look after our comrades through projects like this.”
ONET has over 1,600 members, but for many years has been the link to over 100,000 retired members of the Defence Forces.
Over the past ten years ONET has significantly expanded its remit and built accommodation for ex-servicemen and women who are homeless.