Cork woman is set to fulfill her Camino dream in aid of homeless charity

MACROOM woman Mary Coakley is a walker who wants to do something worthwhile.

“Doing a stretch of the Camino for Focus Ireland will make the journey more worthwhile,” says Mary, the mother of two daughters, Aimeé and Leah.

As well as caring about the homeless crisis in Ireland, and doing something about it, Mary also cares for 21-year-old Aimeé, who is autistic.

“Yes, I am full-time carer to Aimeé,” says Mary. “She depends on me full-time otherwise she might have to go into a home.

“When Leah is around during the day for a while, I can get out to walk. It is good for my head space.” Why is Mary taking on the final 115km stretch of the Camino s route between May 27 and June 3?

“Walking the Camino was something I always wanted to do,” she says.

“And when I came across Focus Ireland’s ‘Camino Walk Challenge’ for this year, I knew I had to sign up. Doing the walk for a good cause will help me keep a goal in mind.

“Homelessness is such a big issue now, it’s frightening,” adds Mary.

It is an issue experienced by people who lack a place to live that is ive, affordable, decent and secure.

The figures are frightening. The number of homeless people in Ireland is is at a record level of 13,531, and latest figures from the Department of Housing show that 9,504 adults and 4,027 children accessed emergency housing in January, 2024.

Just over half of homeless people are single adults, with 453% aged 25 to 44.

Figures also show there are 500 adults homeless in Cork alone.

“There are so many people homeless, we often don’t know the real numbers,” says Mary.

She is clocking up the mileage during her training, in preparation for her expedition for Focus Ireland.

“I’m doing roughly 12km a day, five days a week,” says Mary.

“Often, I do an extra kilometre a day. Last Thursday morning I did 16km.” 

How long did that take her?

“Two hours and 35 minutes,” says Mary, who is obviously a fit lady.

Mary is upping her training as the trip gets closer.

I’m hoping by the time I get to up my distance by continuing doing an extra by 1km a day, then nearer to the trip I’ll be comfortable walking 20km a day.

The time is right.

“Now that I have a good reason to walk the Camino, it’s now or never.” On her trip, Mary will walk from Sarria to Santiago Compostela, part of a group of 20 who are participating in the Focus Ireland Fundraising initiative.

Ahead of the hike, she has started a GoFundMe page with which she has so far raised almost €2,000.

You will find her page at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/qqdkz2-camino-de-santiago-may-27-june-3 

Fundraising is not Mary’s forte.

“I’m not very comfortable doing it, asking people for money, but it has to be done,” says Mary.

“Homelessness is constant these days. There’s a constant reminder of people dying on our streets, and I just think it is an awful thing in our society.” Mary, a keen walker with an important goal in mind, has built up endurance and determination to do 115km of the Camino.

“I am looking forward to walking,” she says.

“I will be out of my comfort zone, but when it’s done and dusted, I’ll be happy.” Bernard O’Hehir, who is living in Cork, and who knows what it’s like to be homeless, is happy that Mary is ing Focus Ireland.

What is it like to be homeless?

“Sleeping rough on the streets is not nice,” says Bernard, who is a published author in full employment who became homeless in 2011 through no fault of his own.

“I became homeless in 2011 due to a personal issue and I really couldn’t see any light ahead,” he says.

Something stuck with him.

“Hope stuck with me,” he says simply. “I clung to hope as my life improved.

In January, 2020, my mum died, and I made a promise that I would make her proud of me and live the best life that I could.

Bernard recalls those harrowing days, when he had no place to call home.

“Being homeless makes you lose your dignity and your sense of self-respect,” says Bernard.

Nobody respected him, he believed.

“I hanging out on a street corner with some of my mates having a laugh,” says Bernard.

“I this lady came around the corner and began shouting abuse at us. I wondered what I had done wrong.” He did the right thing.

“My life improved when I started to volunteer, and I became immersed in the issues of homelessness.” 

Bernard had experience.

“I know what those dark times being homeless are like,” says Bernard.

I met people in hostels who were kind, often older than me. I also saw people being taken away in body bags and who self-harmed.

“I’ve seen it all.” Groups in Cork that help the homeless, such as Penny Dinners and the Vincent de Paul, welcomed Bernard on board.

“We brought the homeless people food, clothes, and care packs,” says Bernard.

“When I had a few bob in my pocket, I’d go to Tesco and get a loaf or a swiss roll for the people on the streets.

“My eyes were opened to their suffering. I knew 99% of the homeless people on the streets in Cork.” Things should change. Things can change.

“Things can change,” insists Bernard.

“I got so much help.” Bernard helped set up a volunteer group, called Reaching Out, which provides hot food, clothes and supplies for rough sleepers.

Bernard’s mum, who was from Doneraile, would be proud of him.

He smiles.

“I hope I’ve made her proud.” 

Bernard O’Hehir has published a pocketbook of uplifting messages entitled Memories And Hope.

ABOUT FOCUS IRELAND 

Focus Ireland has been working harder than ever in 2024, ing 680 households in Cork who are homeless.

Focus Ireland have been based in Cork since 2007 and their work has grown, providing 152 homes throughout the city and county through their own developments and Focus Housing Association, in close partnership with local authorities.

Focus Ireland was delighted to open 16 of these homes in the heart of Cork city on the Grand Parade last year, which also includes their new Cork office.

Focus Ireland also s households in Cork through housing and services work and many more through their Tenancy and Settlement Service.

While family homelessness is largely a Dublin crisis, many are at risk around the country due to the housing crisis. There are more than 180 children in emergency accommodation in the Southwest region.

For more see https://www.focusireland.ie/