Veterans charity to bring new life to century old building in Limerick City

THE Defence Forces Veteran Charity, Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann, (ONE) has launched its annual appeal to assist in the delivery of its plan to add new single en-suite bedrooms across Limerick.

The Fuchsia Appeal aims to raise over €0.5m to deliver the Veteran Home Expansion Plan (VHEP), which will provide a six en-suite bedroom home in Limerick, and cover operational costs.

The project represents almost a doubling of the charity's accommodation capacity in seven years. Since the building of its first home in 1994, ONE has helped over 1,100 homeless veterans nationwide to access emergency accommodation.

The charity will formally commence the VHEP at a ceremony in late October at the site that will become Brú Uí Choileáin in Cork city. Each location including Brú an tSairséalaigh in Limerick city will provide a safe environment for Defence Forces veterans with wrap-around mental health and support services.

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Limerick's Brú an tSairséalaigh, named to honour Patrick Sarsfield who was a senior commander in the Jacobite Army during the Williamite War in Ireland from 1689 to 1691, is located on Lord Edward Street.

The organisation is working in partnership with Limerick City and County Council, the Housing Agency, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The house is adjacent to Sarsfield Barracks, is currently unused and unoccupied.

It was built in 1925 as the Commanding Officer’s House but is no longer required for that purpose. The design phase is ongoing and it is planned that the home will be ready for occupation in 2026.

The chief executive officer of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, Cormac Kirwan said: “The new facilities will directly enable ONE to provide homeless veterans with a safe, secure and supportive space, warm meals, camaraderie, care and hope, for as long as it is needed.”