MEMBERS of the Dublin boating community will be pulling together for a major fundraising event on the River Liffey this weekend in support of a homeless charity.
The rowing, kayak, dragon boat and canoe clubs, along with private boat owners, will take on a 500km, 10-hour rowing marathon. Up to 40 boats and crews will take part this Saturday, November 26, to raise vital funds to help Focus Ireland’s work to combat and prevent homelessness. The boating community decided to join forces as a response to the deepening homeless crisis that has seen the number of families homeless in Dublin surpass 1,000 for the first time. A spokesperson for Focus Ireland said: “Our services and housing is needed now more than ever so we can support families and children if they are homeless and also work to prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place.
“Focus Ireland relies on great fundraising events such as this to help fund our 70 lifeline services that support over 12,500 people each year who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes.”
On November 26 there will be an official press reception at the Dublin Docklands offices on Custom House Quay.
The event starts at 12noon and all the boats will gather there for photos. It promises a show unlike anything the Liffey has seen before with skiffs, kayaks and canoes from most of the rowing clubs on the East Coast filling the river.