The team behind last month's unforgettable Rock Against Homelessness gig, curated by Fontaines D.C., have handed over a cheque for €70,000 to Focus Ireland this week. This includes the money raised from ticket sales, guest list donations and additional money donated on the night – and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Focus Ireland, who are working tirelessly to protect the homeless in the midst of an unprecedented public health emergency.

For the fifth year of Rock Against Homelessness, Fontaines D.C. enlisted some of the country's most exciting talent, including The Murder Capital, KNEECAP, Just Mustard, The Altered Hours, Melts, Stefan Murphy and The Mary Wallopers – with Paul McLoone on MC duties. The night culminated in a blistering set from Fontaines D.C.

“Rock Against Homelessness in aid of Focus could not happened without Fontaines D.C. who went out of their way from the moment they were contacted last November,” said the show’s promoter, Barry Egan of the Sunday Independent. “We can’t thank them or their manager, Trevor Dietz, enough.”

The €70,000 raised will help Focus Ireland in their efforts to combat homelessness – particularly at this time with Covid-19 changing circumstances for everyone. People who are homeless are at additional risk of contracting illness and infections because of their circumstances, and some homeless people may also have long-term health issues, which would put them at additional risk. Focus Ireland are monitoring the situation closely and putting additional measures in place to protect both their frontline staff and their service users.

"The fact that we now have 70k to help us to protect families with children and individuals who are homeless during this public health emergency will be a great help in our work," said Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan. "The support our frontline staff provide for people who have nobody else to turn to at this time of crisis is possible because of the support of events like Rock Against Homelessness. I want to pay tribute to Fontaines D.C. and all the bands they got to play this year as well as the amazing support from INM."

Revisit our live review of this year's Rock Against Homelessness here.