Defence Force Veterans Invoke God’s Tears in Fundraising Drive as Demand for Emergency Accommodation Surges
The Annual Fuchsia Appeal aims to raise €0.5m to drive the largest ever investment in housing for homeless veterans with new homes in Cork, Limerick, and Newbridge.
Defence Forces Veteran Charity, ONE (Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann), has launched its annual Fuchsia Appeal aiming to raise more than €0.5m to assist in the delivery of its Veteran Home Expansion Plan (VHEP), which will add 18 new single en-suite bedrooms across Cork City, Limerick, and Newbridge, and its operational costs.
The new phase of the VHEP represents the largest ever investment in housing for homeless veterans as demands surges nationwide with €3.5m budgeted for the project. The additional bedrooms will bring the total accommodation for homeless veterans to 69 bedrooms nationwide with a further 11 bedrooms planned by 2028 as part of a third phase. The project represents almost a doubling of the charity’s accommodation capacity in just seven years.
Since the building of its first home in 1994, ONE has helped more than 1,100 homeless veterans to access emergency accommodation with over 90% moving on to permanent housing. In addition to capital costs, the operational costs of the charity currently stand at €1.7M, with approximately €775,000 coming from the State. The Fuchsia Appeal is critical to closing that funding gap.
The charity currently operates accommodation in Athlone, Cobh, Dublin & Letterkenny, as well as thirty one Branches, fourteen Veteran Support Centres, and six veteran Support Officers (Counsellors) nationwide providing mental health support services to the veteran community estimated to number 140,000 across the island.
The charity will formally commence the Veteran Home Expansion in a ground-breaking ceremony in late October at the site that will become Brú Uí Choileáin in Cork City. Each location including Brú an tSairséalaigh in Limerick City and Brú Dermot Earley located in Newbridge will provide a safe environment for Defence Forces veterans with wrap around mental health and support services.
Speaking before the launch of the Appeal, the Chief Executive Officer of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, Cormac Kirwan said:
“Homelessness and mental health challenges have now become part of our common language but in doing so, they may have unfortunately lost some of their true meaning. The blunt reality is that it is about being without shelter, or compassion, or care, or hope. The new facilities will directly enable ONE to provide homeless veterans with a safe, secure and supportive space, warm meals, camaraderie, care and hope, for as long as it is needed. Ninety percent of the veterans helped by ONE escape the cycle of homelessness and move on to permanent housing and this is a key motivation behind the work we do, a work that is summarised in four words: Support, Comradeship, Advocacy, & Remembrance.”
The annual Fuchsia Appeal was first launched in 2009 and serves as a key fundraiser for ONE’s essential services. The fuchsia was chosen as the fundraising emblem due to its presence across all of Ireland. The flower, commonly known as Deora Dé or God’s Tears, serves as a reminder of home for all service personnel. The Fuchsia Badge is now sold as part of the Appeal to fund support services and help ensure that ‘No Irish Veteran is Left Behind’.
Donations to the 2025 Fuchsia Appeal can be made here.
