Inishowen schools to raise homelessness awareness with school sleep out

Scoil Mhuire of Buncrana and Carndonagh Community School will sleep out to shine a light on Ireland’s homelessness crisis, ahead of World Homelessness Day on Friday, October 10.

Over 100 Transition Year pupils at Scoil Mhuire will take part in the Focus Ireland sleep out initiative on Thursday, October 9, followed by students at Carndonagh on Friday, October 17.

Scoil Mhuire teacher, Katrina McGonagle, said the campaign was important to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness.

She said: “We are doing it because a couple of years ago, there was a module about having a home, and it stirred something up in the students.

“In Inishowen, we don’t see homelessness the way you see it in cities, and it opened up eyes. There are 5,000 children in Ireland who are without homes today and every day. Focus Ireland has done a video on it, and it tells the story of what it is like to have no home.  

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“We have an International Protection Centre close by, and it resonates a lot with students too. 

“For us, it is as much about raising awareness among the community as it is about raising money. The students all pay €10, and then we ask the parents if they want to contribute, but for us, it is about raising awareness.”

According to Focus Ireland, almost 60 adults are currently homeless in Donegal, and 34 families, including 65 children, are now homeless in the North West. Over 16,000 people, including more than 5,000 children, are currently homeless and living in emergency accommodation across Ireland.

When asked about the plan for Scoil Mhuire’s sleep out and the local reaction, McGonagle commented: “The plan is for the students to come in with their sleeping bags and sleep on the assembly hall floor. We will chat, play some games, and watch the video from Focus Ireland. We will then get pizzas at about 10 pm. We will play games and might watch a scary film. We won’t get a lot of sleep. 

“The local community will often come down and show messages of support. Parents have said thanks for bringing it to attention. It is difficult for the people of Inishowen to understand what it is like because you don’t see it, so I think it is good to make people think about it.”

Pat Dennigan, CEO of Focus Ireland, stated: “The number of children in homelessness across Ireland has now risen above 5,000, and I am personally calling on the communities across Ireland to join us in taking action.

“By sleeping out for Shine A Light, we will shine a light on Ireland’s children without a home. In Ireland in 2025, we must not allow another crisis affecting thousands of children to go unnoticed without action.”