FONTAINES DC AND FOCUS IRELAND HIGHLIGHT HOMELESSNESS WITH BOHEMIAN FC JERSEY COLLABORATION
With huge thanks to main club partner Des Kelly Interiors, without whom this would not be possible, Bohemian Football Club is delighted to unveil our 2021 away jersey in conjunction with Fontaines DC and Focus Ireland.
The jersey brings together two of people’s greatest loves, music and football, through the city’s original football club and Dublin’s biggest band in years, as well as highlighting the unacceptable level of homelessness across the state.
Focus Ireland, as a national body, have been working on tackling homelessness for over 35 years and 15% of the jersey profits will go directly to them.
Bohemians aim to have a net positive impact on society and are acutely aware of our obligation to use football as a force for good whenever possible.
We hope that this collaboration provides Focus Ireland an added platform for them to communicate the need for leadership and change.
A one-off, the jersey pays homage to Dublin and Ireland in its design, which features Celtic knotwork, the Poolbeg towers, Grattan Bridge lamps, for which we wish to thank the Three Castles Burning Podcast for design, the ‘Dublin in the rain is mine’ Fontaines lyric, and Patrick Pearse’s quote ‘Beware of the Risen People’ from the wall of Kilmainham Gaol.
This quote embodies the human spirit and that there is hope for everyone even when at their lowest ebb.
Focus Ireland
Focus Ireland helps over 14,000 people each year who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They also provide a place to call home for more than 1100 households nationwide. The charity believes that homelessness can – and must – be ended as nobody should be homeless in Ireland today.
Focus Ireland is proud to be featured on the new Bohemians away shirt in conjunction with Fontaines DC, who have been great supporters of the charity in the past. One of the greatest risks faced in terms of tackling homelessness is that the issue becomes normalised and the approach by the state becomes one of ‘managing rather than ending’ the problem.
It is vital for people to talk about social issues to ensure that society understands the problems and also takes the correct path to overcome them. Bohemians have a proud track record of using its position as a leading club as a positive force to highlight issues such as homelessness.
This inclusive approach helps to show that people who are marginalised are just people like all of us. They just need support, understanding and not to be viewed as someone defined by only the tough times they’re going through.
Focus Ireland believes you need to see the person first and not the problem. People who are homeless have the same hopes and loves as all of us. They love football, they love music and should always be part of local communities.
This partnership with Bohemians and Fontaines DC will be a very positive initiative to encourage inclusiveness and understanding of the issues while calling for more action to end homelessness through provision of affordable rental and social housing.
This partnership will also help to raise vital funds to support the work of Focus Ireland challenging homelessness and changing lives.
Tom Coll, Fontaines DC drummer, said:
“We’re extremely proud to be a part of the new Bohs kit in conjunction with Focus Ireland as they are two organisations that we hold very close to our hearts.
“Bohemians and the work they do on a social inclusion, humanitarian and the community development level is something that we are proud to support in any way that we can.
“We used to rehearse in a little shed in Phibsborough years ago and the spirit surrounding Bohs is something that we found both welcoming and a true necessity to forward thinking, socially conscious action on a community level.
“Seeing their Refugees Welcome kit last season was an eye-opener to what kind of a message a football kit could achieve, instilling pride in a community and also spreading awareness and raising money for a social issue that is grossly neglected.
“We hope that this jersey can do something similar with Focus Ireland and we can raise some money for the tireless work they provide for the homeless community in Ireland.
“We’ve worked with Focus Ireland in the past and we’ve found them to be a genuinely amazing charity in their work both on a grassroots level and also in the battle to shape adequate policy on sustainable housing provision for people who need it.
“Anyone living in Dublin city knows that the homeless crisis has gotten to the stage where large scale government action is needed immediately and without question. We hope that this kit can raise some money for Focus Ireland to work towards a fairer Ireland for everyone.”
Pat Dennigan, CEO Focus Ireland, said:
“This partnership with Bohemian Football Club and Fontaines DC will help to highlight the problems while also supporting work towards building a common belief that it’s possible to end homelessness.
“There are nearly 8,500 people homeless and 2500 of them are children. This is wrong and unacceptable and must never be allowed to ever become part of the ‘new normal’.
“Many in society are struggling due to the terrible pandemic and it is more important than ever for everyone to have access to a safe place to call home. The project will also raise vital funds to support Focus Ireland’s work with over 14,000 people each year who are homeless or at risk and we are very thankful to Bohemians and Fontaines DC for their great support.”
Daniel Lambert, COO Bohemian FC, said:
“With massive thanks to Des Kelly Interiors, it is brilliant to link up with Fontaines DC who are no strangers to Dalymount Park, and Focus Ireland who do such essential work combatting homelessness across the country.
“We know that football and music both have enormous power to reach people and engage people. Homelessness is not something that must exist, it can, and it should be solved, and we need to ensure as a society that it is not normalised and accepted.”
