HUNDREDS OF people braved the elements in Dublin on Saturday night as part of The Word's Big Sleep Out campaign to raise awareness and funds for homeless charities.
An estimated 60,000 people worldwide took part in the event, with 600 people setting up camp outside Dublin's Trinity College.
Tens of thousands of euro was raised by fundraising teams and individuals in the lead-up to the highly anticipated event which saw big names like The Script perform intimate sets for the people who had raised at least €200 each for the charities.
Big Sleep Out Dublin Ireland. @thescript @TheScript_Danny @BigSleepOuts @DepaulIreland pic.twitter.com/P0uJ7XloHB
— Matt (@Matt54832841) December 8, 2019
Local charity DePaul received half of the funds raised, with the rest going to international charities across the globe as part of the Big Sleep Out worldwide campaign.
Bedding down after an amazing bedtime story by #SisterMichahel! Thanks so much @siobhni. https://t.co/5dTR4b0PPV pic.twitter.com/ZPBWrJekuO
— The Good Summit (@thegoodsummit) December 8, 2019
Spirits were high despite the wind and rain as Storm Atiyah approached the country, and the event gave people a glimpse into the reality lived by thousands of people without a home in Ireland-- although the food, entertainment, celebrity appearances and the promise of a warm bed waiting once the event was over meant that a glimpse was all it was.
Packet 3 blankets, 2 sleeping bags, 3 jumpers, a hat and a ground mat for @BigSleepOuts @tcddublin . I’d have to carry this around all day in two carrier bags, plus wear a huge big coat to survive a night outdoors in this weather. #bigsleepout #endhomelessness pic.twitter.com/yAQJLOhToJ
— Gisèle Scanlon (@GoddessGuide) December 7, 2019
Siobhán McSweeney, AKA Sister Michael from the Channel 4 show Derry Girls appeared at the event to read out the traditional bed-time story, and called the experience "extraordinary".
This was extraordinary. I’m still reeling. Thank you #BigSleepOut for such a wonderful response. #endtohomelessness https://t.co/AwHwaWuVu4
— Siobhán McSweeney (@siobhni) December 8, 2019
Trinity College Dublin raised over €23,000 for the event, hitting the top of the group leaderboard, and the number one spot from the individual donors was David Lane, who amassed a whopping €10,806.
Though the event has come and gone, donations are still being eagerly accepted by the campaign-- to find out more you can visit the Big Sleep Out website here.
