Exhibition tells the stories and human experiences behind Limerick homelessness figures

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A POWERFUL photography exhibition with pictures and stories of people with lived experience of homelessness has opened in the Limerick City Gallery of Art.

It’s part of the 40th anniversary events to mark four decades of Focus Ireland and the Journey Home exhibition was officially opened by Mayor of Limerick John Moran.

The exhibition will run until the end of December and will also pay tribute to the legacy of Focus Ireland founder Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, who passed away in November.

Speaking at the launch, Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said: “The greatest tribute we can pay Stan is to continue her work and we will do this and always be guided by her values and spirit. We will not see her likes again that is for sure. May she rest in peace.”

Mr Dennigan said that this exhibition was part of the work of the Lived Experience Ambassador Programme (LEAP), which was set up in 2021 to empower people with lived experiences of homelessness to share their stories, challenge stereotypes and influence policy and public understanding.

The Journey Home exhibition is the result of a Photovoice project led by sociologist Dr Maria Quinlan.
Using a trauma-informed, therapeutic approach, the ambassadors - Catherine Keenan, Paul Geoghegan, Kelly Ann Byrne, Scott Buckley, and Stephanie Clarke, shared their experiences through personal and found photographs. The exhibition is accompanied by a book that further explores their stories.

LEAP ambassador Kelly Byrne, who shared a photo of her newly done nails, said: “This for me, I know it looks like a picture of my nails, but it is not. It is about, see the wheel, and I am in control of my life now… I have my hand firmly on the steering wheel and I am choosing where I go.”

We want your photos to feature on the website via our Camera Club. Do you have a great photo from life in the locality? Whether it’s a party, wedding, communion, landscape, a quirky shot from your archives, or a simple everyday moment, we want your snapshots.

We are inviting people to share photos that capture the spirit of the county. From special occasions to quieter moments, your pictures help tell the story of everyday life in our community.

To submit:

Go to the Camera Club page and follow the instructions to upload your photo. Include your name, where it was taken, and a short caption if you can. 

Your photo could be featured on our website and newspaper and seen by readers across the county and beyond. 

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