Sir, – If the future of journalism is about regaining its role in bringing power to account, then the churlish article by Rosita Boland ("Is a school sleepout best way to raise awareness of homelessness?", Opinion, December 23rd) about young people sleeping out at night to raise awareness and money for the homeless in Dublin should now be ringing alarm bells in the offices of The Irish Times.
Wrong target, wrong time. – Yours, etc,
ULTAN Ó BROIN,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – Rosita Boland has done a fine service in starting a discussion on the hypocrisy of the wealthy supporting charitable causes. As was to be expected, the alumni of Belvedere College were out in force online to defend their position. The homelessness problem will never be eradicated if left to the wealthy to cure rather than government. I wonder what the alumni’s views are on our tax rates, the house market, the buy-to-let market, etc. Of course, they can take whatever views they want on such issues because they do their bit every year by sleeping out. As Clement Atlee said, “If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim.” – Yours, etc,
REAMONN O’LUAN,
Churchtown, Dublin 14.
Sir, – Rosita Boland takes aim at Belvedere College’s annual sleepout and fast. She states that Dublin is a city where there are so many alcoves, arches and laneways that have their own transient, shifting population, a population that remained almost entirely nameless to the general public until the death of Jonathan Corrie at the beginning of December. She questions whether it is really appropriate for students at a fee-paying school to express solidarity by sleeping out on thick rubber mattresses with plenty of warm sleeping bags and clothing, surrounded by boxes of chocolates.
Although the sleepout is Belvedere’s best-known event, the public is less aware of the thousands of gifts, donations, visits, house decorations and other projects undertaken by the school every year to help make life more comfortable for the elderly, sick, lonely, depressed and deprived people in its surroundings. Although Belvedere is indeed a fee-paying school, it should be pointed out that 10 per cent of its annual intake is reserved for recipients of a full scholarship scheme, the cost of which is covered entirely by the school and past and present pupils. It is the only fee-paying school in the State with a scheme on such a scale.
Finally, certain members of the homeless community do not remain nameless. I remember one alcoholic homeless gentleman named Paddy, who began camping with us when I used to sleep out about 10 years ago. Paddy revelled in the 48 hours of food, minerals, company and conversation he was given every year under the porch of the Bank of Ireland at College Green. One year Paddy appeared right on time at 6pm on the 22nd. He was sadly missing a leg, which he had lost during the year due to gangrene. This did not, however, dampen his spirits and he left with the usual stock of money and supplies to get himself through the Christmas period. Last I heard Paddy had passed away, but I’m sure there are many of Dublin’s homeless who attend year on year and are afforded the same treatment.
The publicity that this entirely unique event attracts usually results in over €100,000 being raised every year for Dublin’s homeless. – Yours, etc,
IBAR McCARTHY, BL
Dublin 7.