Dublin GAA legend Philly McMahon gets triggered every time he sees a person living on the streets after his brother’s experience of homelessness.
The Dublin star lost his older sibling John in 2012, aged 31, after a long battle with addiction and has told how his death changed him as a person and his attitude towards the issue. The All-Ireland winner from Ballymun told Dublin Live: “Everytime I walk down the street and I see a homeless person it triggers me.
“Because my brother was homeless at one point when he was going through his addiction. When I was playing for Dublin we would have gone in to feed the homeless, but nobody would have seen it on social media because we did it for the right reasons. We did it to connect, stay grounded and to give energy to people who are struggling. For me, it is close to home.
“There are a lot of people on the streets and society has let them down. They should be supported and sheltered, so they have every opportunity to get back into society.”
The 35-year-old also told of his upset when he learned one of his school friends had also found himself living rough. He added: “I remember walking over the Ha’Penny Bridge and recognising a friend I went to school with, I couldn’t believe it.
"I sat down with him and asked him how it happened. Basically, he was living with his girlfriend, they had a fight and he wrecked the house. He ended up getting into trouble, he did time for it and he had nowhere to go when he got out.
“His parents passed away and he had nowhere to live. It is the same with people struggling with their mental health, ending up in an addiction cycle and ending up on the streets.
“In family homes around the country, there are people worried about their loved ones on the street, especially in winter. I am very fortunate to have a roof over my head, food on the table and clothes on my back. These people are not so lucky.”
Philly was speaking to launch Focus Ireland and Bord Gais Energy’s call for Shine A Light Night on Friday to raise vital funds to help end family homelessness in Ireland. According to the latest Government figures, 10,568 people are currently in emergency accommodation as of June 2022, making this year’s sleep-out more important than ever.
The footballer said: “The goal is to raise €1.5million this year and I’ll be doing my bit by trying to raise as much money as possible and sleeping out in my garden on the night.” The footballer and pundit, who runs his own fitness centre, also opened up about how becoming a father has shifted his mindset. He welcomed a son, Leannain, with wife Sarah Lacey last February, and said: “When you have s**t days and you go home to him, it makes everything go away.”
Read next
Murder probe launched after body of man in his 20s found in Dublin city flat
Gardai seek video footage of Westmeath area where car fire killed two children
- Two children dead and woman airlifted to Dublin hospital after car fire in Westmeath
- Gardai launch witness appeal after man attacked at Electric Picnic
To get the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox sign up for our free newsletter
