Hostel for homeless veterans opens in Cobh

Diarmuid Higgins, Secretary, Cobh Branch ONE and Chairman, Southern Area Council of ONE. Brú na Farraige will be formally opened today by Minister Simon Coveney, and the newly appointed Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy will also be in attendance. Picture: Larry Cummins

A new hostel for homeless Defence Forces veterans opens today.

The new development will provide a safe and secure environment for Defence Forces veterans who are experiencing difficulties in their transition back into civilian life The Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann), otherwise known as ONE, opened Brú na Farraige hostel on Harbour Row, Cobh, County Cork.

The new development, which has 5 bedrooms, was launched by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney.

ONE is a registered Irish charity for veterans of the Defence Forces.

The charity offers veterans housing and support, with the ultimate goal of accessing permanent accommodation, improving mental health and preventing future homelessness.

Today’s new facility adds to others run by ONE.

They include Brú na bhFiann in Smithfield Co Dublin, Brú Doire Feá in Letterkenny, Co Donegal and Brú Chostúim located in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

The charity also has 15 Veteran Support Centres and to date, over 1,000 veterans have benefitted from ONE's three homeless hostels.

With the addition of the new home in Cobh, ONE will provide just under 20,000 beds to veterans of the Defence Forces annually, with 90% of those helped moving on to permanent housing.

The organisation has worked closely with the Office of Public Works to secure the use of the former social welfare office in Cobh and this new development will provide a safe and secure five en-suite bedroom hostel alongside a veteran support centre.

Speaking about the launch of the new hostel in Cork and ONE’s ambitions, Ollie O’Connor, CEO of ONE said: “Cobh has a strong heritage of military service, so we are delighted to announce the opening of the new Cobh development, the first veteran hostel in Munster.

“The new facility will directly enable ONE to provide Ireland's homeless veterans with a safe, secure and supportive space, warm meals, camaraderie, and care, for as long as they need it.

“Some 90% 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.

“The work of ONE can be summarised in four words – Support, Comradeship, Advocacy, & Remembrance.”