Cork musician ‘energised’ but standing down weekly homelessness protest outside Dáil

Every Thursday since May 2022, regardless of the weather, Martin Leahy has travelled from Bandon to the Dáil to perform his song 'Everyone Should Have a Home'

Cork-based singer-songwriter Martin Leahy marking performing 'Everyone Deserves a Home' outside Leinster House. File picture: Sam Boal/Collins

Cork musician Martin Leahy is to stand down his weekly housing protest on its 200th week at the end of this month, but said he feels “energised” by the light he has been able to shine on the issue.

Every Thursday since May 2022, regardless of the weather, Mr Leahy has travelled from Bandon to the Dáil to perform his song Everyone Should Have a Home.

His 200th and final protest will see him joined by musicians Jimmy Cullen and The Resistance Choir, as well as speakers from opposition politicians and advocacy groups.

Mr Leahy said homelessness is at its highest level ever, adding that the official figures fail to capture the “hidden homeless” — people staying with family or friends because they have no home of their own. He said he had once been part of that group himself, after receiving an eviction notice and being unable to find an affordable place to rent.

“My protest has opened my eyes to the power of one person. I had no PR, I’m not in any political party, yet I got multiple articles in national newspapers and international coverage. State broadcasters from Germany, Holland, and France, National Public Radio in America, Al Jazeera came over and did a piece that had a reach of 430m people.

“Even though I’m stopping now, I’m feeling energised — I see all those articles as articles that may not have been about homelessness otherwise, and there’s a sense of achievement in that, because I am only one small voice.

“I’d never done a solo protest, I wouldn’t have considered myself an activist before this, I hadn’t even busked. The single act of doing this helped keep the issue in focus, and I feel that everybody has that power, and it would produce change if everybody took a stance and didn’t just accept this housing crisis as a fact of life over here.” 

Mr Leahy was also recently invited to address the Oireachtas after years of standing outside the Dáil gates.

“That’s the power of music, which I have always believed in due to the influences I had growing up, I’ve seen music shining a light on lots of issues.” 

Each week, he travels from Bandon to Cork City, taking the bus up in the morning and back again in the evening — a round trip that costs him €29 each time, he explained.

“It’s doable, but everything is becoming a bit of a strain — the energy, the cost, the time. I feel that 200 is a good number to stop at.” 

He plans to take a break after his protest winds up, but to continue his advocacy in other forms after, he said.

“Since I decided to stop, I have been looking back at that light that I kept on homelessness, and I feel very energised by it all.”