Thanks to your support, my sleep out could provide:
164
hours of one-on-one support for a child with a dedicated Child Support Worker
or
181
nutritious meals in the Focus Ireland Coffee Shop
or
251
hours access to Focus Ireland’s education service PETE (Preparation for Education, Training & Employment)
Why I’m sleeping out again this year
At present, some 5,620 children in the State do not have a home and have spent their summer in emergency accommodation.
There are almost 18,000 people living in emergency accommodation at present, including 105 adults in Waterford city and county.
There's also been a 54% year-on-year increase in referrals to homelessness and housing supports in Kilkenny according to The Good Shepherd Centre's Annual Report.
Taking the South East into account, there are 361 adults, 79 families and 119 children in emergency spaces, with families spending, on average, a year in such accommodation – and some for much longer. Doing nothing about this isn't really an option.
Shine A Light 2026, on Friday, October 9th, will literally cast a spotlight on one of the worst social crises to befall modern Ireland. If you can contribute anything to my latest sleep out, it would be deeply appreciated.
My Achievements
Shared Page
Self donated
50% of Fundraising Target
Reached Fundraising Target
Increased Fundraising Target
Invited a Friend
Completed Sleepout
Challenged a Friend
Thank you to my Sponsors
€100
Jan Van Winkledam
€100
Kclr Ck Broadcasting Ltd
€58
Anonymous
Well done! Another great effort X ❤️
€55
Gerard O'hara
Wewll done Dermot
€55
Seán Ó Hargáin
Maith thú Dermot. Hoping the night will be as bearable as possible and that we all recommit to ending homelessness.
€50
Anonymous
€50
Anonymous
€50
Sandra Power
Well done Dermot! X
€30
Lillian Clery
€30
Cathy Keyes
Hope all goes well Der!
€25
J & T
Well done 👏
€25
Dermot Keyes
€25
Pat O'hara
€25
Eleanor Malone
Well done Dermot, really such a brilliant thing you’re doing, all the luck!
€21
Una Ni Mhaoldhomhnaigh
Well done Dermot
€21
Aoife Kirby
Well done Dermot!
€21
Kevin Keyes
Well done again brother
€21
Lynn
Well done Dermot.
€20
Catherine
Great effort, Dermot Again!
€20
Anonymous
€20
Anonymous
€20
Dermot Keyes
€20
Anonymous
€10
Anonymous
€10
Marie Maher
€10
Wayne Jacob
Well done, Dermot. A great cause.
€10
Anonymous
€5
Cervantes was asleep when he wrote Don Quixote. Joyce slept during the Wandering Rocks section of Ulysses. Homer nodded and occasionally slept during the greater part of the Iliad; he was awake however when he wrote the Odyssey. ...